fruitland community

More Kingdom Assignments have been turned in (even though they've been completed for a while). One person " took wrapped/bowed poinsettias to the ladies of Vision House ." Their responses were: " ooh, aah! Flowers! Look how pretty !" (cummulative servers 113/served 725) One couple worte: " We called the schools and Scott city Middle school called us back and said there were six children that the parents could not affor to pay their lunch bills, so with the help of FCC we were able to catch up the past bills and make the children current on their lunch bills for a month. Thanks FCC! We were notified on arrival from the secretary that since we were able to catch up the past due bills, the children would quality for free lunches from now on ." (cummulative servers 115/served 731) A family reports: " We baked and delivered Christmas cookies to our neighbors and attached a Conections card to each containter ." (cummulative servers 118/served 779) Another family writes: We " helped a family with groceries for Christmas ." (cummulative servers 120/served 784)...

More Kingdom Assignments have been turned in (even though they've been completed for a while). One person " took wrapped/bowed poinsettias to the ladies of Vision House ." Their responses were: " ooh, aah! Flowers! Look how pretty !" (cummulative servers 113/served 725) One couple worte: " We called the schools and Scott city Middle school called us back and said there were six children that the parents could not affor to pay their lunch bills, so with the help of FCC we were able to catch up the past bills and make the children current on their lunch bills for a month. Thanks FCC! We were notified on arrival from the secretary that since we were able to catch up the past due bills, the children would quality for free lunches from now on ." (cummulative servers 115/served 731) A family reports: " We baked and delivered Christmas cookies to our neighbors and attached a Conections card to each containter ." (cummulative servers 118/served 779) Another family writes: We " helped a family with groceries for Christmas ." (cummulative servers 120/served 784)...

We received another Kingdom Assignment this Sunday: A family provided Christmas for a local family (cummulative servers 112/ served 713). We had a family visit our church this Sunday because they had seen a basket at Monticello House with a "Connection Card" identifying our church. Praise the Lord!! I would like to reflect on the Kingdom Assignment after the first of the year (we may have more reports yet)...but for now: THANK YOU FOR ALL WHO PARTICIPATED!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

The Kingdom Assignment reports continue to come in... One family reports, " We purchased a $25 gift card from Walmart and a greeting card for a local secretary who is battling colon cancer; has two school-aged children and her husband is incarcerated. We wrote her a long encouragement note in the card. We've received a thank you note and she passes on her blessings to our church for being 'light' in the community ." (cummulative servers 92/served 435). Another writes that they " baked brownies and delivered them to local Fruitland businesses...gas stations, hardware stores, Mulberry Acres office and a few neighbors. We got good responses with alot of 'thank yous' and smiles !" (cummulative servers 96/served 455) " We bake homemade cookies and made hot cocoa - then set up a table on the Jackson Parade route. We had a sign that read 'Free hot cocoa and cookies. Merry Christmas from Fruitland Community Church." Had the FCC Kingdom Assignment card attached to each bag of cookies. We got lots of positive responses and 'thank yous ...

Here is the last of this past Sunday's reports. They have been truly a joy to read! A family reports that they "bought food for a needy family suggested to us by a local social worker ." (cummulative servers 92/436 served) " Our family purchased all natural foods from Trader Joes and delivered them to a friend who has stage 4 colon concer. She was very thankful and it helped life her spirits ." (cummulative servers 96/437 served). Another family " filled a basket with bath products, slippers, chocolate and a candle for someone who has gone through a divorce and is having a hard time dealing with the stress (she was married for 30 years) and who is also having serious recent health problems. She was shocked and very grateful to receive the basket ." (cummulative servers 99/438 served). " 20 muffins from My Daddy's Cheesecake were bought for my co-workers ." (cummulative servers 100/served 458) Another family describes their KA project: " Cooked breakfast for Oak Ridge School's kitchen staff and helpers and brought it to them...

Here are more reports!! A family " had 3 large pizzas and two 2-liters delivered to the librarians at Riverside Regional in Jackson ." (Cummulative servers 76/served 354) " We took our Kingdom Assignment money and added more to it to give to a family in the Fruitland area. This family has a child on our child's soccer team. Both parents work hard to pay the bills, but are still struggling. We gave the money to help them give their children a nice Christmas. Thank you for this opportunity to leet us help another family in need and to hopefully help make their holidays more enjoyable ." (Cummulative servers 82/served 359). A family reported that " pumpkin pies were delivered to 4 neighbors and a co-w orker (who lost a daughter in May) for thanksgiving dinners ." (cummulative servers 84/served 368). A unique project was done by a young couple: "$ 5 in quarters were put in ziplock baggies with the FCC card in it and passed out to 5 people in the laundry mat here in Jackson. The folks were surprised and confused. One person almost refused because of pride ...

Several reports came in this morning and it has been fun to read them! I won't get them all posted tonight, but I'll get started... A family " took hot pumpkin muffins to the police/fire station in Jackson on Thanksgiving. It took awhile for someone to come to the frong and then she seemed confused at first then happy, after I said we just wanted to thank them for their service from or church and the card was in the basket of goodies ." (cummulative servers 58/cummulative served 282) " We bought muffins for my co-workers, most whom don't attend church. I told them it was a gift from FCC because we care and God loves them. This was part of a large effort by our church to do deliberate acts of kindness. They love them and asked the church was. It gave a great opportunity for me to show Christ's love to them ." (cummulative servers 60/served 302). A couple " took cookies to the big rig repair shop (20 people) and Fruitland America Meat Company (5 people). Also took a $15 gift certificate to our single next door neighbor who doesn't go to church that we know of ...

Wow...more fun reports to read!! Here are some creative ways that God's love has been shared with God's people... "I know of a single mother who is really struggling financially. On Sunday, she told me that she has $11.00 to last until she got paid on Thursday and she was out of gas. I gave her a $25.00 gas card so she could get to world and get her son to and from school." (cummulative total: 41 servers/234 served). "With the $25, we purchased 5 NT Japanese Bibles and take them to Japan when we go on Nov. 25. We will travel in Japan for a week, then we will be in Singapore for a week. During that time we will prayerfully distribute 6 English Bibles. Please be in prayer fo rthe people God wants to receive these Bibles." (44 cummulative servers/245 served) "Bought Casting Crowns CDs for ladies at Vision House and Mending Hearts. I gave them to the girls at CR and asked them to share with other women. They were very thankful." (commulative total: 45 servers/247 served)...

Wow...talk about energizing a Monday. I had a busy fun (tiring) weekend in Bolivar with Bethany...the first thing I was interested in seeing was the new Kingdom Assignment reports! And they did bring a bounce to my step... :) Here are three more reports.... One family gives this report: "A couple we've know for several years used to be very active in church. Something happened at that church and because of that have not been back to church for about 10 years. Bought Pizza Inn gift certificates for them and invited them to church. They live close to FCC. Response unknown ." It seems to meet that we should pray for all those who receive small acts of God's love...but let's all pray that this couple will visit FCC and be drawn to a local body of believers! (cummulative report: 37 servers/224 served). One family gave money to a man who had emergency surgery to unblock his colon and subsequently will be out of work for a year. The response was as follows: " He said thank you and may come to church. We hope they will follow through and and talk with the pastor ...

You have no idea how much fun I am having reading the creativity in the Kingdom Assignment reports...I also have talked to several this week who are struggling with their Kingdom Assignment...may these and other posts generate some ideas! Here is the next round of reports... Two folks served 10 people. Doughnuts were purchase for the election staff and money was given to help with transportation for a medical emergency. Both were well received. (cumulative total: 29 servers/183 served). A couple served 35 Fruitland Area Firefighters by filling bags with chips and candy bars for them to use when they are on duty. The firefighters were very appreciative. What a great idea! (cumulative total: 31 servers/218 served). One person assisted a family of four to make a trip to the ER to see their child that had just been taken to Children's Hospital in St. Louis. They were desperate and appreciative! (cumulative total: 32 servers/222 served). May the seeds of kindness planted take root in someone's heart this week! Keep sowing, Pastor Mike