Shepastor: “Ministry to Mothers in the Desert: Pastor Marilyn Parker-Jeffries, Pastor of New Creation Baptist Church, Lorain, Ohio shares a description of a Mother’s Day Outreach”

And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7 ASV *****************************

14So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food and a container of water, and strapped them on Hagar’s shoulders. Then he sent her away with their son, and she wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of Beersheba. 15When the water was gone, she put the boy in the shade of a bush. 16Then she went and sat down by herself about a hundred yardsc away. “I don’t want to watch the boy die,” she said, as she burst into tears. 17But God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, “Hagar, what’s wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.” 19Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink. Genesis 21: 14-19, NLT

On Sunday, May 13, 2012, women across America will celebrate and be honored by family and friends for Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day, however, is not a time of joy and celebration for all women. Some will experience grief over the loss of a mother, a child or a barren womb. Some will experience anger or resentment because of a broken relationship with their mother. And some will look hopelessly at others as they rejoice because they have been displaced due to homelessness. Today, Shepastor highlights a beautiful and compassionate outreach program of the Women’s Ministry from New Creation Baptist Church; Lorain, Ohio;

The Reverend Marilyn Parker-Jeffries, Founder and Pastor. Below is a description of the service they will provide to a local ministry to homeless women for Mother’s Day. Read below and be blessed… Shepastor Highlights “Ministry to Mothers in the Desert: New Creation Mother’s Day Outreach,” Rev. Marilyn Parker-Jeffries, Pastor

This is the focus of the Ministry we will be doing at Faith House on Saturday. Faith House is a transitional housing program that is focused on meeting the needs of homeless single parents and their children. The residents of Faith House can remain in this transitional housing for a period of 2 years. On Saturday, May 11th, the day before Mother’s Day, the Women’s Ministry of New Creation Baptist Church will be making a journey to Faith House to share the love of Jesus. We have one goal in mind in reaching out to the mothers who are currently residing at Faith House with their children. That goal is to let them know that sometimes unforeseen, and unplanned life circumstances can put us in a homeless situation. But just because you are in this transitional place, there is a God who sees you right where you are and has sent us to share his love with you and let you know that you are not forgotten. Just like Mary in the 2nd chapter of Luke, when she had to give birth to her son in a manger because there was no comfortable housing available to her, Jesus understands what it means to be homeless. Yet strangers from the East came bearing gift to let this small family know that they were not forgotten by God. Hagar, in Genesis chapter 21, had been kicked out of the household of Abraham and Sarah, and found herself in the midst of the desert with nobody but herself and her son, feeling that the only future available to them was death. There, God showed up and directed her to waters that refreshed and renewed them. Hagar gave God a new name, She said, “He is the God that sees me.” We will journey to Faith House to let these mother’s know that although unforeseen circumstances in life have put them in positions like Mary and Hagar, they are not invisible, they are not forgotten and there is a God that sees them. God is sending the women of New Creation to come not just with words of refreshment but bearing gifts that will seek to speak to their inherent value and worth as women and mothers created in the image of an Almighty God. Below is the program that the women of New Creation will share with these mothers: - We will provide a dessert buffet - One of our church mothers will give words of encouragement - Each woman will be given a bracelet of hope, flowers of love and a book, "Daily Devotionals for Mothers - We will end our time together with prayer It is our prayer this outreach will begin the process of building a bridge between these mothers and the church as we demonstrate the love of Jesus and partner with this organization to bring the light of Jesus into places of darkness and despair.

What an awesome reflection of Jesus’ love in our world today! Are you doing something special for women in your community on Mother’s Day? Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com Until Next Wednesday, In Faith, Hope and Perseverance, Pastor Chris `