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The second blog in our "Thankfulness in Ministry Series."

How did you get called into the Shine ministry?

Growing up, I hated school.  Really, really hated it.  I felt like it was a total waste of my time, and viewed my teachers as the leading experts on soul crushing and fun killing. The smell of the place (yup - elementary, middle, and high all smelled the same), the sound of the bells, the look of the portable buildings…they all give me this anxious nausea.

Why would I ever go back?

Well…

Along with the nausea-inducing sights, smells and sounds, public school brought me into close contact with the most precious creatures this world holds…people.  And these people, they made a deep, lasting mark on my heart. 

Sam, undoubtedly the smartest kid to ever attend Manzano High, lived in abject poverty just across Lomas from me. He made me laugh every time I talked with him.  Kelly often passed out at her desk.  She sought comfort from the horrors of her life through cutting and probably drugs. Heather’s sister showed up at lunch one time to say good-bye to her…she was 16, and had decided to run away.  I cried with Heather through the day.  Tamara’s mom was a Buddhist, her dad an atheist.  She taught me how to ask great questions, how to listen, and how to be a great friend to a person who completely disagreed with my worldview. 

Ms. Fletcher could have been a professor at an Ivy League school, but she loved us NM kids.  She cried when we experienced sudden strokes of “brilliance”.  Oh, I could go on and on all day.  Public school is the place where the extraordinary, the needy, the hopeless, the anxious, the noble, and the hurting collide.  It is an incredible slice of society, and a surefire place to find people who are desperate for the hope only God can give them.

When Mountain Christian Church first had the opportunity to be partnered with a Title 1 APS school through Shine, I just felt like God was saying, “Here you go, Ash….all you’ve ever wanted.” 

Did I ever think I’d want to go back to public school?  Of course not.  However, to invest in the lives of the needy, to be an agent for change in a young one’s life, to bring relief to the suffering, to strengthen the trembling hands of those on the front lines (teachers), and to do it all in the name of Jesus Christ?  Honestly, it seemed too good to be true. It is the ministry of my dreams.

How have you seen God work in you and your volunteers through your ministry?

Wow…has my faith, and the faith of my Shine teammates…grown by leaps and bounds through this ministry!  We have had such little control over this thing, and have had to simply trust God at every turn.  Would the principal and staff of a public school really welcome the help of a church?  Would we have enough volunteers to help at the events we were actually invited to help with?  Would the love of God really be communicated through our efforts?  Would we have enough resources to actually make a difference there?  And, what does making a difference even look like?  What are we supposed to do with all the overwhelming need that exists there? 

We have prayed hard; and at every turn, God has opened doors, built relationships, and lavished abundance in ways that only He can.  We often find ourselves giggling over His goodness, because it bowls us over time and again.

What has been the hardest aspect of saving and how did God use that to grow you?

Uncertainty.  Shine is an uncharted ministry.  I often say, “I have no idea what I’m doing”, because I really don’t.  I like routine, and I like to have a plan, and Shine lends itself to neither.  The wonderful thing about this is that I know that the success God brings to Shine has nothing to do with my efforts….it’s ALL Him; and the uncertainty of it all keeps me coming back to His throne for wisdom and grace.

What are you most thankful for in your ministry?

I am most thankful for the relationships that God has built between us at MCC and our A. Montoya family.  What a privilege it is to share laughter, tears, victory, and struggle with the kids, parents, and staff at our school.  While we’ve been honored to serve them, they have blessed us in countless ways.  Diving into another’s world when you don’t “have to” always begs the question: “Why?  Why are you doing this?”  Our friends at A. Montoya don’t really ask us this anymore. 

The love of Christ that inevitably sloshes out of us and onto them is obvious.  They get it now…we don’t serve them so we can feel good about ourselves or gain converts or show off our generosity.  We love them because God loves them.  That’s it.

We are so grateful to Ashley for sharing her heart for God and the Shine Ministry with us! What an inspiration to see how God uses His ministries to transform lives! Click here for the rest of Ashley's insights on how serving through Shine has made her more grateful, trusting and aware of God's presence in a few days!

Over the past few months we've considered how we can encourage MCC members, and those in leadership positions at MCC, to be thankful for the ministries they serve in while considering how it has changed their perspective and allowed God to transform them. Sometimes it's only when you step back to look at the big picture of ministry that you see just how much God has done to your heart through your work for His kingdom. With that in mind, I've asked Ministry Leaders across MCC to answer eight questions about how serving has transformed their faith, walk and idea of how ministry can change lives; of those who serve and those who are served. This is the first in that series.

• How did you get called to become a Children's Church Teacher?

We started attending MCC when our son Cody was 2.  He would cry when I would try to leave him downstairs in class, so I would stay with him as he got comfortable.  Molly Malizzo was the teacher, and she was so very amazing and energetic with the kids.  Her animation in telling the Bible stories was mesmerizing!  I had taught Sunday school at our previous church, and I felt very led to join the team of teachers.  My desire to help my child grew into a love for helping other kids.

• How have you seen God work in you and your volunteers through Children's Church?

I cannot tell you how many times that the lesson I am scheduled to teach blesses me and speaks to what is happening in my life. So often the verses and stories miraculously meet my current need. This makes the stories easier to tell and have a bigger impact on the kids. I am humbled that God would work so personally in my life. My Bible knowledge and love of the Gospel have grown tremendously over the years.

• What has been the hardest aspect of serving and how did God use that to grow you?

I wish I could experience every child in my class accepting Jesus as their savior. As a teacher of 4-6 year-olds, I have to be content to simply plant seeds of truth. My job is to come alongside parents in leading their children to Christ. If they love Jesus more and know more about God and His Word when they move up to a new class, that is success also.

• What are you most thankful for in the ministry?

I am most thankful for the love from the kids that I receive in return.  To have a child say to me, “Are YOU going to be my teacher today?” or “I miss being in your class!” is a true joy.

• What would you say to someone who doesn't feel equipped to serve?

Focus on serving where God calls you to serve and trust Him to equip you. Serving should be done from the heart, not out of a sense of obligation.

• Why should people get involved in ministry?

You will be surprised at how much God blesses you in return compared to the time and effort that you put in.

• Can you share a ministry success from 2018:

One of my biggest joys in Sunday school occurs when every child chooses to pray aloud before the snack. As someone who never prayed aloud in a group until becoming an adult, I have a real heart to show the kids that Christian friends pray together. Over time, the prayers I hear are beautifully eloquent and about meaningful topics. These prayers melt my heart and renew my faith.

Winter is my favorite time of year but Autumn is a very close second... the summer heat is finally behind us, giving way to cooler days and chilly evenings. I'm always on the lookout for migrating birds flying overhead or feeding in a field. Fall colors are bursting through in all their glory, making Sunday drives even more enjoyable.

The cooler weather also means I can start wearing my turtlenecks and sweaters again!  If I feel chilled, I can just give the thermostat a click to turn on the furnace to warm up the house, or put a few logs on the hearth to light a cheery, crackling fire and warm up that way.  But not everyone is as fortunate this time of year. Some people have a daily struggle to stay warm, and that's where the Wood Ministry can help.

This will be my third season helping with the Wood Ministry.  Although I like being out in the fresh air, cutting and stacking logs, I have discovered that my favorite part of the Wood Ministry is being a Sponsor.  As we are outside among the glory of the fall colors, I can take some time to talk about the glory of God.

The first person I spoke with as a Sponsor was a woman who was "down on her luck," as she put it, and who needed a little help to get through the winter.  I was very nervous as to what I would say to her and I tried to collect my thoughts on the drive to her home.  When we arrived, I took a moment before I got out of the car and I closed my eyes and asked God to help me say the right words, to be a comfort to her, and I even asked Him for some sort of ice breaker - and boy, did He send me an ice breaker!

When I opened my eyes, who did I find staring at me, waiting to greet me, but a big, fluffy dog with his tail wagging enthusiastically!  What a sense of relief I felt as God had presented me with the perfect conversation starter because I am such an animal lover, and who doesn't like to talk about their pets?!  The dog stayed right by my side as I went to introduce myself to the homeowner.  While sharing a cup of hot chocolate that she had prepared, with her dog leaning up against me, I truly felt filled with the Spirit as I shared my involvement with our church, the wonderful fellowship I receive from its members, and the love and comfort I feel from God as I continue learning how to fully open my heart to Him.  It was a great experience and I felt very humbled and blessed as I got to know this woman and learn a little more about her and the situation she had found herself in.

Not every experience has been quite the same as that first one, but that is part of what makes Wood Ministry Sponsorship so special... every person is different, so every situation is different.  If Sponsorship sounds like something that you might be interested in contact Paul Brouse for more information.  

There is a bit of chill in the air these days. I will know it is truly fall when I begin to smell pinon smoke from neighboring fireplaces. However, for many it is not just about the smell of the burning pinon but the heat that it produces. For some, this heat is a matter of life or death on the frigid nights in the East Mountains. Unfortunately, many in our community struggle with keeping the firewood bin filled during the long winter.

MCC has a long history of helping locals meet their firewood needs. What a unique opportunity for us to be able to show God’s love through the warmth of a fire on a cold night. But to really show God’s love, we need to be more than a supplier of firewood.  Such calls for help are often a sign of a much deeper problem--broken relationships with friends and family and most importantly with God. The request for firewood to the church is a symptom of a lack of anywhere else to turn.

We apply a “When Helping Hurts” model to not just deal with the symptom but also work to deal with the root cause. This process begins by developing relationships. Nurturing and maintaining a relationship gives the opportunity to really understand the need while also providing the chance for the one in need to contribute to others as well as help themselves.  Helping people help themselves creates a newfound sense of ability, self-worth and dignity. In the same way, this gives us the opportunity to help them see that worth and dignity were always there in the eyes of the Lord.

This process depends on relationship building with the client sponsor being the lynchpin. The sponsor is the one who establishes a relationship with the client and walks them through the process of getting wood.  In this process they help the client reclaim dignity, restore relationships with others and points them to God. Specifically, the sponsor will assist them in building a full team of workers to cut, spit and deliver wood. The team would normally include the client and his friends, family and neighbors. It is the client’s job to build the team; it is the sponsor’s job to help and encourage them in their relationship building.

The clients who have agreed to this process are ready for a change. What an opportunity as a sponsor to enable the client to take constructive steps toward a better way of life. More importantly to walk along side our Lord and Savior as He works to bring real transformation. And in the process, make a new friend.

We are in need of sponsors. Please consider investing in our community in this valuable way. Come learn more about becoming a sponsor at the Wood Ministry Sponsorship Training on Saturday, October 20th from 9:00am-11:30pm at MCC. Contact Don and Ann Moore to RSVP for the training or to learn more.

It's surprising where God places you isn’t it? I would have never imagined myself volunteering at a pregnancy center; I’ve never been pregnant and have no personal information to share with young couples experiencing pregnancy. But, I've been volunteering at the Care Net Pregnancy Center for four years and I know that God has placed me in the right position, to help serve people in need, in the best possible way for His glory.

Volunteering with Care Net is a constant reminder that God's plan is always good, even if it’s not what you originally planned for.

God has been doing some big things through Care Net in the first half of 2018 that I would like to share with you:

• The “Know Now Medical Mobile Unit” (MMU) has been in operation for a year and a half and we are seeing a dramatic increase in the number of clients whose original choice was termination or who were undecided when they arrived at their initial visit. The presence of the MMU near the surgical abortion facilities in Albuquerque is changing lives.  Women who once thought their only option was to terminate their pregnancy can now see an ultrasound and learn the truth about the baby they are carrying.  It has been a game changer! Very recently, two women at the end of their second trimester of pregnancy boarded the bus, had an ultrasound, and decided to give birth to their children. We thank God for these dramatic "turn-arounds."
• The Care Net medical services are expanding with the addition of a Certified Physician's Assistant. Her credentials allow us to provide prescriptions to treat two of the STI's for which we test and the Abortion Pill reversal medication. This opens up yet another opportunity to provide life-saving help to our clients.

• Care Net is now offering a Fatherhood Program. Instead of concentrating on just the mother of the unborn, we now offer counseling and important information for the fathers-to-be. It is becoming a vital piece of the Care Net ministry.  

Care Net is always looking for additional volunteers.  If you're like me, and wonder "What could I possibly do to help this ministry?" but your heart is compassionate about helping our youth with unplanned pregnancy, I encourage you to get involved!

Please contact me, JoAnn Tallant, or any other Care Net representative or call 505-880-8373. 

You can also get involved this Saturday, August 25^th at the Care Net Walk for Life Event. There are four locations in Albuquerque and the East Mountains. By attending the walk, you are affirming the sanctity of human life and supporting Care Net! Hope to see you there!