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HELPING HANDS
We have some exciting news: Jesus Cares is partnering with Helping Hands, marking a new chapter for our ministry.
Helping Hands, led by Justin and Elizabeth Low - long-time volunteers of Jesus Cares—focuses on assisting individuals who are in crisis for various reasons, such as health issues, domestic violence, or financial issues. Many of their projects are referred to by social workers in the community. They work in small teams of 8-10 people of all ages and backgrounds to assist with work around the house including gardening and handyman jobs. Their projects operate on Saturday mornings from 9.00 am to 11.30 am with morning tea along the way. They pray and share their faith during their time with the recipient.
“We have now completed over 10 projects across the community over 3 years and our volunteers love working together as a team to bring Christ’s unconditional love to those in need. We have seen God move amazingly in people’s hearts and we have seen people saved and others renew their faith in God. Please join us for our next project as we seek to obey our Lord’s command to love our neighbour as ourselves." Justin and Elizabeth Low
A WEEK IN JESUS CARES MINISTRY
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth’ (Timothy 2:15). Life in the ministry is often challenging, sometimes surprising, mostly rewarding, always a blessing. Jesus Cares Ministry is no exception and thanks to our dedicated volunteers we manage to feed and most importantly bring the Gospel of our Lord Jesus five times a week.
The Tuesday evening outreach in Blacktown is unique in the sense that we talk to a lot of different ethnicities with different backgrounds and religions. We’ve noticed that people are very curious, not necessarily poor and are quite happy to have a conversation or a debate on Christianity while seeping a cup of tea.
Thursday mornings are rather quiet although there’s always a stream of people coming to receive a good breakfast and a coffee. People we serve there are often homeless or very poor. They are not always willing to talk or share but we believe that the name of Jesus on the van is powerful enough to stir something in people’s heart.
Friday evening in Brookvale is another outreach mostly focused on the youth attracted by a generous, free BBQ. We also manage to have meaningful conversations with those young people and it’s really good to be able to understand their world and share ours.
Friday and Saturday evenings are busy as people come from all over to the city.
Whether it is Martin Place or Belmore Park we meet with our regulars, we chat about their week, their challenges, we pray with them and we share the Gospel. There are always new faces coming to the van and it’s often easy to strike a conversation with them.
We sometimes face mental health issues, disrespect, insults, but the majority of the people we serve is thankful, respectful and is aware of the work we do.
So that’s a week passed with Jesus Cares, always challenging, often rewarding but never boring!
Blessings, Valerie Forestier
BLACKTOWN MINISTRY
Andre and I have been sharing our faith with Nuee, who follows the Mormon faith. Nuee has been coming for a few weeks now and shared with us his belief that everyone can become a god one day and that, according to Mormon teachings, even God was once a man. He mentioned that he believes in both the Bible and also the Book of Mormon.
During our discussions, we had the opportunity to talk to him about the God of the Bible. We showed him Deuteronomy 6:4 and explained that Jesus called Himself the Alpha and Omega, reasoning that nobody else can ever become God. Nuee believes that Joseph Smith was visited by John the Baptist to continue the priesthood of Aaron. In response, I read to him from 1 Peter: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). We explained that we who believe in Jesus Christ are the royal priesthood through Christ. Nuee was listening and he expressed interest in returning with a Mormon book and continuing our conversation. We hope and pray that he will come to the true faith.
We offered pies to four kids with their mum, allowing us to share our faith again. I shared the story of Zacchaeus and how he did not continue in his sin but repented and turned to Christ. I told the kids that there is a way out of sin, shame, and guilt through Christ, who offers forgiveness. The kids were urged to find Jesus by reading the Bible.
We also had a conversation with a Buddhist man who believes in Karma. By the end of our discussion, he realised that we can never overcome our Karma and that Christ is the answer for deliverance from hell. We explained that salvation is only possible not by works but only by God’s grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). He took a gospel tract to read.
- KL
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