FROM CRISIS TO CHRIST-CENTERED HOPE AND RESTORATION

Fresh Starts
 

Fresh Starts.  These two words together speak of a new beginning.  They bring optimism and hope.
 
February, March and April are my favorite months.  They speak vividly of fresh starts.  The Sun is shining at an increasing higher angle.  Birds and their beautiful songs are returning.  Snow and ice are giving way to green leaves and grass.  It is just a joyful time of year - all the more savored after coming through a chilly winter.
 
The Easter Story is also my favorite story.  It brings hope and optimism both now and for eternity.  It also gives a fresh start to anyone no matter their circumstances.  To see sin dealt with by Jesus dying on the cross and then death overcome by Jesus rising from the grave is in its rugged and joy-filled fullness the best news ever!  Stephanie Noyed captures the rugged cross in her picture shown here.
 
One circumstance that arrived last summer, in the midst of the pandemic and riots, was the City of Minneapolis inspecting Jericho Road for its food license. 
 
The required shelving, storage, freezers and the quality/freshness-date of the food all passed.  However, Jericho Road did not have the required Certified Refrigerators, Quarry-Tiled Floor, nor mop-sink drain.
 
After spending over $15,000 and many countless hours in coordinating a contract and volunteer work all three requirements have been met.

Before the tile was cemented in place the walls were scraped of loose paint and cracks were caulked and painted with primer.  The adobe colored quarry tile with the bright yellow walls really spruced up the room.  It gave it a very nice and needed fresh start.

 
The Arctic Air Refrigerators weighed over 300 pounds and were a real struggle to get down the staircase.  We even had to take off the door frame in order to get the units into our food storage room.  What is nice about these units is the glass front doors that has the option to turn on or off the interior light.  With or without the light it is easy to see what is in the refrigerators.  This, in the long-run, will reduce electricity use as we won’t be opening and shutting refrigerators to see what is inside. 

George, Hassan, & Johnny (in the picture) along with Mario, Leonardo, Chuck, my son Brian, and I all pooled our talents and abilities to get the work done.  It was a joyous team effort that resulted in a terrific upgrade (fresh start) for the Jericho Road facilities.


One wouldn’t think a mop-sink would be so hard to install in our Boiler room. However, our first contractor, after jack-hammering all day, walked off the job without finding the drainage line. 
 
Thankfully the second contractor went further with the jack-hammering and found the line in our 65year-old building.  It was prayed over that the drainage line would be found and we Thanked God for the success.
 

                                    

  Pastor John Bohnsack
                          Development Director

Waves of Peace and Joy  
 

The following is an example of what the Lord is doing at/through Jericho Road Ministries.
 
Shirley (not her real name) came to JRM in a state of high anxiety and depression.  Her rent is $858 per month.  She had paid $540 and still owed $318, putting her at risk for eviction.  A single parent, with 2 children, ages 4 & 8, she works as a PCA (personal care attendant) and is normally able to barely cover her living costs on her own.  Because of Covid 19, her work hours had been cut back, which reduced her income.  Fearing eviction, she had gone to the county to request emergency assistance and was denied! 
 
In the meantime, the person for whom Shirley did the PCA work, was very recently moved to a lower “Covid risk” residence, so Shirley’s work hours are being restored for the days ahead.  Having lowered income for even a short time, however, Shirley could not cover all of her rent and was unable to afford her anti-depression medication.  She was experiencing the double whammy of eviction threat AND heightened anxiety/depression.  Her parenting burden was further complicated by recently discovering from a Doctor visit, that her children were suffering from lead poisoning.  The lead source was eliminated by her landlord, but the special diet required to help the children recover, was also costing her extra money.  JRM was able to provide food assistance to help with that need.  
 
Gifts like yours enabled JRM to also enter into this triple threat arena with a check to the landlord that completed the rent for the month.  As we prayed with this woman of faith, she said waves of peace and joy lifted, strengthened and encouraged her.  All of this, because of  gifts like yours!  Once again., THANK YOU.  It is your prayers and gifts that facilitate JRM to be MINISTRY, not just some kind of give-away station.

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************REMINDER************

For anyone who desires to give a donation to JRM in honor (Mother's Day-hint...hint), or in memory of someone, we provide a note card to the person honored or to the family of a person memorialized. 

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