Outreach Center Network News Letter
March 2016
In this issue:
A Holy Week Devotion
This MonthÕs Focus
Notes from Centers
Looking For Spanish Braille Reader
Audio Bible Study Options
Final Thoughts
Each article will begin with ###. You may move to the next article by searching for this.
### A Holy week Devotion
March 20-26 is Holy Week. Friday, March 25 is Good Friday, the day that we consider JesusÕ death on the cross.
People in New York City consume 1.5 billion gallons of water a day, and this will increase to two billion by 2020. Just think about the thousands of miles of distribution mains underground leading to every house, every apartment complex and every office building. All this to "give a drink" to the thirsty people of the Big Apple. And as Jesus said in John 4:13, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again."
"Will you give me a drink?" Jesus asked the woman at the well. From the cross He said I thirst. The pain, suffering and dehydration that he experience while hanging on the cross were so intense that he could only get out "I thirst."
For all the times we salivated over a juicy sin, Jesus on the cross suffered. For all the times we devoured and digested gossip, lies and half truths about others, Jesus went without drink while on the cross. He desired a simple drink to quench a thirst but had none. He who commanded the mighty waters to be still, who performed the miracle of changing water into wine, expressed that he was physically, but also spiritually arid, dry, parched.
At the hands of his heavenly Father he took on the final results of sin. Being without God leaves one lifeless, empty, barren, like a hot arid desert.
ÒI thirst.Ó With these words the soldiers gave him some wine mixed with gall. This drink did not satisfy but instead was designed to dehydrate someone even more. ÒI thirst.Ó With these words the father had him drink deep of the cup of suffering and death, pouring it down his throat. Jesus drank deep, so deep that he drowned in our sins.
It is for this reason that Jesus also said in John 4:13-14" Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
John 7:37-38 Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
John 19:30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. With that, our sins were washed away, our souls cleansed by the blood he shed on that cross.
### This MonthÕs Focus
The past few months we have considered how a center was established with five core values. A core value is something absolutely necessary to survive. For human life some core values are to eat food, drink water and breathe.
We have looked at the first three core values: 1. show human care and compassion; 2. Keep every promise you make; and 3. Develop leaders who develop leaders.
This month we look at the fourth core value: ÒGive birth to a daughter ministry.Ó
Here again, just like last month, this core value might seem odd or out of place. Why should the center try and give birth to another ministry? Certainly, if You are not looking to do this, odds are you will not do this. If however, you are looking, when God opens this door, because you are intentionally looking for it, you will recognize it. Its as easy as that. It does require looking outside or beyond oneself.
Many of the outreach centers that are in existence today are open because someone was ready, looking and praying.
### Notes from Centers
From a blind member of South Sioux City Outreach Center
HI, yes the support group is still meeting. Dorothy lost her husband but is still the leader.
Note: this center opened October 2007
From the Bradenton FL Outreach center
In the Bible study on Ruth Robert noted that God accepted Ruth and her mother who were not Israelites. God will accept anyone who comes to Him and it not matter what background they come from and he even accept blind people as well for He loves all of us.
From the Eureka, MO Outreach Center
Nice to hear from you. The Outreach went well. We fed 16, with drivers and BVI. Two regulars were absent, but we have gained 3 new members in the last 3 months. Praising God for that. Also one of our 70 year old ladies who is a widow, fell in love with her driver, a 72 year old widower and they will wed in March. God's work is always amazing from human perspectives.
### Looking For Spanish Braille Reader
A
missionary from South America is looking for a copy of the Catechism in
Braille. We found out that there is not a Spanish Braille Catechism in
existence. This ministry is therefore developing it. We were able to get
an electronic copy; locate a transcriber who knows Braille and a bit of
Spanish. The transcriber now has a Braille copy ready to proof.
We are looking for a Braille reader who knows Spanish. To proof the Braille
Spanish Catechism, this will need a sighted person following along in the
printed copy as well. This is called Òtwo person proofingÓ.
If you are able, or know of someone who can help, please let me know. Thank
you.
Pastor Dave
### Audio Bible Study Options
You probably are aware that Lutheran Braille Workers provides many audio items through the Lutheran Library for the Blind. They also have come out with a two year audio study sent out on CD.
This ministry also provides a weekly Bible study through podcasts on the internet. ÒRoom 4216Ó can be received by computer or I phones, via email or the ITunes store.
Lesson 9 is being released this weekend. It covers some of the events leading up to Palm Sunday as recorded in the Gospel of Luke.
Anyone can call or email me for more information on any of these Bible study options.
Pastor Dave
### Final Thoughts
In upcoming issues we can and will look at many of the same topics as well as others. If you have questions, thoughts or suggestions, please post them on the blind ministry email list.
Pastor Dave