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The weather has been great for the past few days allowing the Cleveland World Changers plenty of time to work hard. Two crews have already finished projects and started on new ones.
A unique ministry opprotunity has occured here in Cleveland. Rainbow McDowel from New Song Ministries in Illinois is a missionary kid from the Philipines where her parents serve. The local people make bracelets out of different colored string and sell them to make money. Rainbow’s parents bought several and she brought 500 of them to Cleveland. She passed them out to everyone on the project. Not only have staff and participants been wearing the bracelets showing their support for the people in the Philipines, but they have passed them out to the community of Cleveland. The colors on the bracelets can be used to share the gospel. How awesome is it that God can use people like the McDowel’s to serve the people in the Philipines, then through these bracelets, the people in the Philipines are now ministering to Cleveland, Ohio–ministry that is truly going full circle. What an awesome testament to the brotherhood and sisterhood we share through Christ with believers around the world.
We have also gotten quite a bit of media coverage in Cleveland. Follow this link to watch a news clip that aired Tuesday on NBC Channel 3: http://www.wkyc.com/video/default.aspx?menuid=172
The weather has been perfect for the past few days in Cleveland, allowing the crews to work hard. We have already finished painting 2 houses and started 2 new ones.
One notable thing that has made a unique impact on the project as well as on the community is a small gesture made by a student from New Song Ministries in Winthrop Harbor, IL. Her name is Rainbow McDowell, and her parents are missionaries in the Phillipines. The local people where her parents are serving make bracelets out of string and sell them to make money. Rainbow’s parents have purchased several of the bracelets and she brought 500 of them with her to the project. The colors on the bracelet can be used to share the gospel in a unique way. Not only have students on the project shown their support for the people in the Phillipines by wearing the bracelets, but they have been giving them as gifts to people in the neighborhoods where they are working. Its amazing how God can use Rainbow’s parents to minister to the people in the Phillipines, then turn around and use the Philipino people to use their artistic gifts to minister to people in America. God is truely an awesome God and what a testament to the brotherhood and sisterhood that we share through him with people around the world.
We have also received quite a bit of media coverage while here in Cleveland. Some of our students were featured on NBC News Channel 3. Click this link to see the clip:
http://www.wkyc.com/video/default.aspx?menuid=172
Yesterday the Dandy Sanders, Paint Chips, and nine other work crews got to work on painting houses for elderly people in the Cleveland Community. The City of Cleveland Counsel in Aging has been working hard for the past few months to get the projects together, and the home owners have been very excited to have the students at their homes.
“They have just been such a blessing!” said the homeowner at the Paint Chips’ worksite. “Look at what a great job they did on my garage! It looks beautiful.”
The Paint Chips have finished painting her garage and are now working on all the trimming and woodwork on the house.
One crew finished their house on the first day allowing World Changers to add a 12th house to the Cleveland project.
On another note, the students and adult leaders are not only sharing the love of Christ through their service to others, but also in words. Yesterday we had 31 gospel presentations and 2 people accepted Christ! Please pray for these individuals and others like them across the country–pray that their journey with Christ would not end with a mere prayer and decsion, but that they would get plugged into a church where they can grow in their faith and really make it a life-changing decision, not just an after-life changing decision. Also, pray for the Cuyahoga Valley Church as they follow up with all those who have accepted Christ or have questions about a relationship with him.
Last night we also had a Concert of Prayer during worship. Students were able to participate by singing praises, confessing sins, and simply becoming undone before the Lord. It was a beautiful service and the presence of the Holy Spirit was felt all around.
Today was the day that everyone finally arrived in Cleveland. A few of our churches made it here a day early and spent time riding roller coasters at Cedar Point. But today, all 93 participants were together for the opening celebration:
FBC Franklin- Franklin, Kentucky
Grace Bible Church- Warrenton,Missouri
Lexington Park Baptist Church- Lexington Park, Maryland
New Song Ministries- Winthrop Harbor, Illinois
Providence Baptist- Franklin, Kentucky
Queens Bible Church- Glendale, NY
During opening celebration, the students learned the World Changers song, had a dance off to the beat of Michael Jackson, and sang karaoke with Taylor Swift and Miley Sryrus (and made the WC staff team feel old because no one knew the words to Hanson’s MBop).
Meanwhile, the adults gathered in the office and had a grand old time learning the law of the land in Cleveland, Ohio. Later, everyone gathered for a delicious meal provided by the staff of Cuyahoga Valley Church (also the place we are staying), then enjoyed a time of worship where worship speaker David Brown challenged everyone to live a life set apart by God.
Lights went out at 11:00pm so students would be prepared to wake bright and early for breakfast at 6:00am. We’re looking forward to a productive week of serving the communities in Cleveland.
