Pickaway County charity builds beds for the needy

Pickaway County charity builds beds for the needy

TROUBLES

This week I have had it come to my attention that many of the people in our church our experiencing problems. Real struggles, that make us question what we're doing. I don't want to offer up some flippant  advice or some christianese jargon fluff. 

But John 16: 33 gives us a promise - "In this world you will have trouble" Linger on that for a minute....

We will have trouble. Cancer, relationship problems, the car broke down, the kids are sick, we don't have enough money to pay the bills, this infection won't go away, the neighbors dog wakes me up too early in the morning, my boss is a pain, the pipes are busted.... troubles. When we align ourselves with Jesus it does not eliminate us from the ordinary. It does not excuse us from life. The second half of the promise is this "But take heart!" Jesus says with an exclamation point. He then finishes with "I have overcome the world."   

My friend Phil Milam sent me an e-mail the week before last, and he had some perspective on some of the troubles that we were encountering, Here is what Phil said:

"I was praying for our church in Circleville today while I was driving to Ronnie V’s house for our service and its migrating location. I prayed that each time we meet together as a church, whether it is for a normal service, at our men’s or women’s small group, building beds for kids, or showing a movie to the community as an act of service, it would be another seed planted to further the growth of our church. I prayed that God would take each seed planted each week and harvest them to grow the church and make Him famous.
Then the question occurred to me ‘what are we planting these seeds into?’ We are planting each seed into a vineyard. When one thinks of planting seeds into a vineyard the obvious implication is that grape seeds are being planted so that they can be harvested and made into wine. 
The process of making wine from the seeds that grew into grapes does not happen overnight. First, the grapes need to be pressed so their juices flow out. Then the winemaker lets them sit in wineskins to ferment for up to two weeks so that the sugars can break down. Then the skins are pressed free of the wine so that it can sit for a few days and settle. Then the wine is put into barrels to age. This final step is important as it gives it much of its flavor and clears the opaque wine. This can last from a few days to forty years.
I think this has great implications for our church and ministry. We are waiting for our church to grow but we may grow impatient sometimes and not see the process of our church going through the winepress and soaking into the wineskins. 


Complications may arise along the way but it may just be God’s way of making us into a 
good ‘bottle of wine.’ 

When problems like copyright infringement come up, it may well be His plan of putting us through the winepress to strengthen us and enable us to solve problems as a church and come together to work against the enemy. It may be that in extending out to the community for support and donations He creates new bonds that wouldn’t be there if He didn’t put us through the press.
Or when we sit at a farm market that doesn’t seem to bare much fruit, we may just be fermenting as He allows us to sit back and observe our community, the way It works, and what it needs so that when we are ready He has already given the wisdom on where to serve and who to serve.
As we look for and worry about a new building and wonder where God is going to settle us into, we can know that God knows the ‘barrel’ that he wants us to age in. He has a location in mind that will take the seeds that have taken months to get where they are that will glorify Him and bring the lost to His son. It may be in that place that we grow together and achieve the ‘flavor’ He wants us to have. In that place we can worship Him and grow in our knowledge of Him so that we can give the city a taste of what He has for it. But we may just need to ferment a little longer before he places us there to age with the city.
If we focus on Him and what we believe He wants us to do I believe that these processes will take place on their own. When we are ready he will give us the tools necessary to fulfill His will. Once we have finished being pressed by the Holy Spirit, and we ferment in the blood of Christ that we drink each week, and we have aged in His presence gaining wisdom He will pour us out onto the community of Circleville. Once his divine processes have been completed each of us will be like a perfectly aged wine bottle ready to be drank by the community so that their palates can have a small taste of what it will be like to spend an eternity with God. 
All that is required our end is patience as we do not know how long He needs us to age. It could be tomorrow in a similar fashion of John chapter 2 when Jesus says ‘fill the jars with water’ and when poured, good wine flows out and is served at the wedding feast. Or it could be weeks, or, months, or years just like the best of wines. If we do not wait for God’s timing we may taste like the watered down wines in Isaiah 1.."



I think that Phil nails it here. I know he was talking specifics about our church. But I think we can apply that to our lives. Yes, Sometimes troubles can just be the crappy ordinary stuff of life. Othertimes they can be the things that shape us, define us, grow, and stretch us. God's way of making us into a great bottle of wine.
I don't know which you are in, and I'm certain that either way it still sucks.
The promise still stands. Jesus has overcome the world.
What does that mean for us?  Well...When we accept him, we take on his nature. This includes his nature to overcome! He is in us. His strength will fortify us in the crappiest of situations or even in the mundane.
We are here. If you need help or need to talk some things over, or just need to gain some perspective. Contact us. We're in this together.

 Phil Milam  
ministers with us at 
Vineyard Circleville Campus
if you'd like to e-mail him 
philip.milam@vineyardcirclevillecampus.com















If you'd like more information about
Vineyard Circleville Campus
Please feel free to contact me at
ron.vanhorn@vineyardcolumbus.org
614-374-1176

It takes me 3 weeks to write one of these- seriously !

Dignity can go along way. 

Vineyard Circleville Campus and S.A.F.E. continue to partner together on the Pickaway County Bed Project. The Last several weeks we have been very busy.  We delivered beds to a family in Columbus. This family consisted of a single dad, raising 5 children. They were tucked away in a housing project. The Kids were excited as we brought in their new beds and set them up. We put on their new sheets, put down their new blankets, Talked about how nice it is to feel that cool sheet warm blanket combo. They talked about how they all used to end up in one room, and how now having individual beds may keep them comfy in their separate rooms. We could see the excitement on their faces. Something new, something that would get them up off the floor.

When we got to talk to the dad in the hallway, He told us how its a struggle living where they live. 

We told him that these beds are about dignity and having a place to lay your head at night. That seems like such a basic thing, but so many people are without the basics. 

We were able to have a quick word of prayer with him and told him that this scripture is written on the leg of each bed- and that this was our prayer for he and his kids. 

Numbers 6: 24-

The Lord bless you and keep you; the lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

 

Last week we were able to deliver a bed to a man who is in a new apartment after years of being homeless. We've been working with PICCA (Pickaway County Community Action) and PICCA led us to this man. They help so many homeless here in our community. Our friend Jason there, has become an incredible ally and is just a fun guy to hang with. Anyway, this gentleman that we delivered the bed to has been living in woods/ caves/ abandon buildings etc... After many years he and his dog have a new apartment. He told us that his goal is to get re- established and hopefully be able to get a house of his own again. 

He had great stories...  Some of them a bit out there. Not sure that all his stories were true, but they were fun to listen to. 

He's not without his challenges, mentally, socially, and physically. 

We asked if we could pray with him and before we could, he said something that I found incredibly profound. He said "You know, I haven't been following Jesus... But He's been Following Me, wherever I've gone" I told him that this may be one of the most theologically sound statement that I've heard. 

I want to Thank Circle of Light Church. They are another church here in Circleville, They have an incredible heart for ministry and this community. They have given us a space to store our beds. 2 weekends ago We got together with a bunch of their guys. We had a work day at the warehouse.

We cleaned and demo'd a big built in shelving unit. Built a new wall. They helped us create a shop inside of their warehouse. They even brought us a table saw. At the end of the day, they handed me a key to the place, so that we can access whenever the need arises. These people are incredible. This was a beautiful day. Young and old guys from separate churches working together.

Realizing that We are the church. So I want to give a Huge Thank You to all the guys at Circle of Light for the incredible gift. (Insert hand claps here)

We couldn't do what we're doing without you! 

MOVIES IN THE PARK 

We are coming Down to the last week before our Movies in the Park begins. We are in the process of building our 18 ft. wide screen. Some exciting news! We are in discussion with a local pizza shop, They have said that they will post an advertisement for us on their pizza boxes. They have told us that they sell 3000 Pizzas a week. We filled out the form and submitted this week. Hopefully this will come through. We are providing this to the community for Free, so free advertising is exactly what we need. 

Again our friends at PICCA have come to the rescue and have loaned us a popcorn machine. We are trying to line up give-aways from local restaurants and businesses. We want to have games and prizes for themed nights. 

Example:

Prize for Biggest Family at the Cheaper By the Dozen Movie Night

Prize for Best StarWars costume on StarWars movie Night

We are pushing to get everything lined up and in place for our first Movie

MEGAMIND- May 20th Rated PG 

If you are intersted in helping us set up or tear down- We'll let you!

But mostly we want to hang out with you!

Please invite your friends. 

About our church

Sunday May 8th. Michael Swift from Vineyard Columbus joined us, and led us in Worship Music. It was incredible. Michael has agreed to help us every other week, and we are thrilled to have him join us. Michael is excited about this as well. He and his wife have Family that live close, and he is hoping that they may drop in to one of our services. We are looking forward to sharing in this aspect of worship together. 

As a side note: Michael performs every month at the Vineyard Cafe at the Columbus Vineyard. You should check him out if you can. I went up a few months ago and caught the show. He is a gifted Musician and a great vocalist. His setlist was a wide mix of genre and styles. I was particularly fond of his cover of Michael Jackson's Billy Jean.

We have new faces joining us. We're excited and glad to have new people with us. 

Final Thoughts 

God is doing amazing things. I see him at work in those around me. Sometimes I feel just so lost, but occasionally I feel like he has allowed me a glimpse behind the curtain. I feel like I’m getting to see the inner workings. I see God bringing people together in the land of misfit toys, aligning little churches and groups. We are the people from the fringes,  a little broken, and un-polished. We are people who are ready to kick the dividers down that have kept us within our church walls for too long. He is gearing up like-minded people who are not afraid to be real, and or genuinely foolish for his name. He is giving us vision, and the passion and abilities to act on them. When we begin to work together, and serve each other, we’ll change not only our communities, but also our world.  We are not alone. We belong to a bigger picture. If you are reading this, Realize where you are, recognize who is walking along side of you, Do something about what God has put in front of you. You are not alone.

Talk to you again soon,

Ron 

If you'd like to contact me- send me an email

ron.vanhorn@vineyardcolumbus.org

vineyardcirclevillecampus@gmail.com 

Beginning a Blog

Well... Here we go. This will be a place to keep you updated on what is going on at the Vineyard Columbus, Circleville Campus.

We are headed into summer, and we have a lot of things happening:

Movies in the Park

We were approved by Circleville City Council to Host a Weekly Free Movie, in Ted Lewis Park. I'm super excited about this. We will host the city to Classic Family Friendly Movies, and stuff them with free popcorn. We want to always look for ways to help our community.  The current state of our economy being what it is. We realized that for many families entertainment is often the first thing to go. A trip to the movies for a family of four can cost $50 or more. We put our heads together made a few calls, made a presentation (Thank you Phil) Whala... Movie Night in the Park.

All Movies will be shown on a Large Screen (Approx 18' wide) at Ted Lewis Park. We will be setting up in the Pool Parking Lot. Bring a lawn chair or blanket- Free Popcorn will be provided - Bring your own Non-Alcoholic Beverages to enjoy. We are planning on having games and contests before and after the movies. This is about fun and family and bringing our community together. So tell your friends and Family, Talk it up to all the people you know.

All shows will be shown on Fridays at 8:30pm. or when its dark enough to start.

Movie Schedule and Details:

Friday May 20: MEGAMIND - Rated PG

Friday May 27: Cheaper By The Dozen - Rated PG
(Prize to be awarded to Largest Family in Attendance)

Friday June 3  : Star Wars - Rated PG
(Prize to be awarded to best Star Wars Costume- Bring your Light Sabers and Vader masks)

Friday June 10: Toy Story 3 - Rated G

Friday June 17: E.T. - Rated PG

Friday June 24: The Princess Bride - Rated PG

Pickaway County Bed Project 

We continue to work with S.A.F.E- Shelters available for everyone (www.everyone-safe.org)
providing beds to those in need. We have worked closely with Children Services and PICCA's Homeless Prevention program to provide beds to the invisible poor in our county. We have expanded our reach also into Franklin and Union Counties. The above pictures show our Bed Project Crew. A few High school students from Logan Elm have joined us, and they have been an amazing help. If you are interested in helping us, or would like to template this idea in your own community. Please contact us.
We are hoping to surpass last years total and give away 150 beds this year.


The Pickaway County Farm Market will be coming up soon- Look for us to be there. Come check out our booth.


Our Church is currently meeting every Sunday Night at Gibson's Cafe @ 6 pm.  
This is nothing fancy. Just a few people getting together to talk and pray.
Weekly message will be given by pastor Rich Nathan


Gibson's Cafe
506 North Court Street
Circleville, OH 43113










Thanks for checking in,

If you would like more information
send me an email.

Ron VanHorn

vineyardcirclevillecampus@gmail.com
or
ron.vanhorn@vineyardcolumbus.org

find us on the web at: www.vineyardcirclevillecampus.com