Greetings from the entire QBC Clothing Ministry Team.
Before I begin I’d like to inform you that the “Threads of Good News” Clothing Closet is open and available to all, including the church family. It’s for the Community and the church is part of this Community. Our contact information and hours:
“Threads of Good News” Clothing Closet (885-1654)
6356 Post Road. North Kingstown, RI
OPEN Tuesdays – Fridays
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
It’s been a while since we last gave you an update. Much has happened.
In John 4:34 Jesus says: “My food is to do the will of the Father and to accomplish His work.” He followed up on His Word by remaining in constant communion with the Father through prayer. Jesus’ example is why meet on a regular basis to pray. Pastor Jim is a part of our prayer gathering, even when we gather on his day off. Oh Lord, bless him a hundredfold. Over the past 5½ years, the Lord has made us apply and believe that the end result of what we do in obedience – is up to God. It’s essential that we remain fed by His Word and prayer.
We operate on the truth that nothing is impossible with God. We cling to this because, more often than not, we feel the dread of inadequacy. AFTER God’s Word and prayer another essential ingredient is the commitment of our volunteers. Our Clothing Ministry Team is actually made of 4 teams. To Vivian, Elaine, Ingrid, Joan, Karen, Shirley, Judy, Dana, Marilyn, and Juanita, thank you for your commitment to serve every week! Anna, Virginia. and Alice are on our sub list. Linda Palmquist, thank you for generously stepping in for us so we could attend the women’s bible study. Some of our volunteers were ladies who we served from the community and now they’re co-laboring with us. They are God’s answer to prayer for more helpers. We also have a homeschooling mom who volunteers with her two daughters every other Tuesday. Each QBC volunteer comes from different backgrounds and experiences which God has allowed so that we can sincerely tell others we have a Living Hope, His Word is True, and His Name is Jesus.
First, we pray: We’re all aware that ministry is not for the faint of heart and, we’ve heard Pastor Jim ask: “Who is up for the task?” None of us. So we gather together for a regularly scheduled prayer meeting and before we begin our day in the Clothing Ministry. We pray for their temporal needs, but especially for their salvation. The Lord causes the planting to begin, we water and love them. God does HIS work in us when we pray. He moves us from disappointments to an assurance that HE will supply us with HIMSELF and the right Word at the time when it’s needed.
We are relationship-builders: We get to know their names, record their contact information and their birthday on registration cards. While they’re browsing, we try to find an opportunity to know them individually. To find out what God is doing in their lives. It’s interesting that BOTH Christians and non-Christians respond to this question. The quick and easy answer is: “I’m doing good. I know He’s watching out for me.” But sooner or later, they start to open up. This may turn into discipleship as we ask them how we can pray for them and wait for God’s direction.
Individuals who come to the Clothing Closet with clothing needs hear the good news of the gospel. God opens their hearts to learn about Jesus. With Adam’s permission, let me briefly share with you that Adam first came 3 years ago and was struggling with great difficulty. Early this year, God’s mighty work through prayer, there was a definite visible change – God answered prayer by providing Adam a church in Exeter, close to where he moved, and has found a mentor. This is a prayer answered that God would provide someone who could shepherd Adam.
Another precious individual, who believed many different philosophies, had a very worldly reference in her understanding of God. Her regular visits to the Clothing Ministry for the past couple of years involved several “Q&A sessions.” A biblical account for the hope we have in Christ has shown her that He is sovereign over all her circumstances. Over the years, she has come to know ? Jesus as her Savior and she’s excited to share the Lord with her daughter.
On Tuesday this week, over just a four-hour period, we were able to provide clothing and God’s Word to two people living in shelters, a dear lady dealing with multiple deaths in the family, another dealing with serious health issues, and a mom who came in for assistance because she and her family lost most everything due to an apartment fire leaving her and her family displaced. This family is currently living in temporary accommodations; both of their two children attend AWANA.
Like all of us, those who come to the Clothing Ministry face various challenges in life. We, who believe, have God’s Word to assure us that God has a purpose for each challenge we face. However, many who we meet in the Ministry shop do not. Here is where our joy begins; not that we have solutions, but that we can listen, and pray with and for them. This is SO THAT we can lead them to HOW MUCH Jesus so loves them, that HE loved them when HE created them, that HE loves them still (He is the God who is unchanging), WHY Jesus Himself had to die for us, and WHAT Jesus’ resurrection means for us who believe.
We’re asking you, our church family to PLEASE pray for us. You’re on this mission with us. Pray for the seeds that have been planted. Any word of encouragement or sound biblical advice from you is welcome. We’re in need of this kind of support from you, our brothers and sisters in the Lord. By God’s grace our time in prayer and the discipleship that God is designing here in the Clothing Ministry occurs weekly, sometimes monthly, in whatever form it takes. At least 1500 individuals have come in to the Clothing Closet since we’ve opened. Following up is critical, we listen, take the time to make Jesus Christ known and delight in His plan from John 10:
I am the good Shepherd. I know my own and my own know me; just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have OTHER sheep that are NOT of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one Shepherd.” (emphasis mine)
Thank you. Praise God for His promise, by His grace.