2nd Annual Christmas Shoppe is getting closer!!

     Urban Family Ministries will host a 2nd Annual “Christmas Shoppe” with a very intentional mission. We want to “Give the Gift of Dignity”. Many of the families served through Urban Family Ministries have become accustomed to the “Adopt a family” world. While the intentions are noble, for our families, it enhances dependency and entitlement. The receiving families receive gifts at Christmas time from complete strangers. In this case, the families offer no initiative, no effort or sacrifice to purchase the gifts for their own children.  Usually, they don't even have to wrap the gifts because the generous people who purchased the gifts take the time to wrap and tag the gifts even.

Last year store items

     To empower our families, we have ended our “Adopt a family” program and started a Christmas Shoppe. This store is set up completely with donations by people who want to give gifts to a family in need at Christmas. These new items, which have been purchased and dropped off at the Urban Family Ministries office, will then be priced much lower and purchased by families involved in our programs.
     The pricing of items range from 10-15% of the ORIGINAL/STICKER price on each item (i.e – a $10 Candyland board game would be marked at $1.00 for our families to purchase.) Our families will come to the store at selected times, shop and even be rung up on a real cash register. Once items have been purchased with their own money, they have an opportunity to wrap and tag the gifts in the office before taking them home. Comments we heard last year sounded like this….

“Are you doing the store next year again? Now that I know what you have, I’m going to save more money for next year’s store!” - single mom of 5

“I did not have enough money to shop at the stores. I was able to shop with a small amount of money in the Christmas Shoppe. It made me feel good to shop, buy things for my kids, wrap them and then have gifts under the tree for them on Christmas.” - a single mom of 3

“The store was a tremendous blessing to my family. I wasn’t going to be able to buy gifts this year for my kids but you helped make it possible!” - single mom of 3

Last year's store items

     Our families want to be able to purchase gifts for their children with their own money, just like everyone else does. Their ability do this will begin to erode the dependency and entitlement so many of them don’t realize entraps them. They want to be able to enjoy watching their children open up gifts on Christmas morning with great anticipation over something they sacrificed for, but going shopping in the “general” sense of the word isn’t possible on their income. This store allows our families to have some pride when their children open their gift on Christmas morning.  The parents will ensure better care for the gifts given when it is their money purchasing the items. It allows our families to experience the same emotions as other parents when they watch their child open a gift they worked hard to purchase.

Our teens helped with pricing and set up.

The result of the change from Adopt a family to Christmas Shoppe will:

1. Bring about restoration of dignity to our families by their purchasing their own gifts.
2. Begin to destroy the cycle of dependency and entitlement.
3. Allow all proceeds to be reinvested in UFM programs that equip and strengthen these and other families in our community.

If you would like to help with this store, you can:

1. Purchase new items from the list below.
2. Return them to the Urban Family Ministries office by December 4th.
3. Sign up to help families shop at the store between December 16-20th.  Help them shop, wrap and be in community with our families.

Any questions, please call Peggy at the Urban Family Ministries office (616-365-9009) or email her at pboverhof@urbanfamilyministries.org.

NEEDED ITEMS:

Clothing
* Winter hats (adults)
* Gloves (adults)
* Coats (kids and teens winter coats, adult fleece zip jackets)
* Boots (kids and teens)
* Snow pants (kids and teens)
* Packs of Underwear (kids and adults)
* Socks (kids and adults)

Customers to our first store.

* Slippers (kids and adults)
* PJ’s (kids and teens)

Toys & Hobbies
* Art sets
* Craft kits
* Tech Deck toys
* Remote Control vehicles
* Baby Dolls (please consider purchasing multi-cultural dolls to closer resemble our families)
* Handheld electronic games
* DVD movies (family and animated)
* Skateboards and Rip sticks
* Scooters
* Board games-family based (Connect 4, Chutes and Ladders, Don’t Break the Ice, Monopoly, Life, Checkers)

Household
* Pans
* Dishes (settings of 4)
* Glass sets
* Mixing Bowls

What a bargain! 

* Utensils
* Paper Towels
* Toilet Paper
* Laundry Supplies (detergent, baskets, fabric softener)
* Tools (basic household sets)
* Nail Polish and Make up
* Bath towels
* Cleaning Supplies
* Pillows
* Twin Sheet sets
* Backpacks
* 10 Ride Bus Passes
* Candles
* Hair accessories
* Jewelry

God Moments...

Have you ever had an experience that did not rationally make sense? I mean, we all have crazy things happen to us every day;  like trying to go in the exit-only door at your local Meijer store,  putting the ice cream in the refrigerator and finding it the next day, or leaving the plastic cover on the lasagna that you put in the oven to cook.  (Not like that ever happens in my life)

Imagine a room full of 5 and 6 year olds that normally are busy moving, talking, and sharing while you try to tell a story.  Those very same 5 and 6 year olds suddenly fall silent, are sitting still, and seem to be frozen in time while you share something that God would want each of them to understand and remember.  Amazing God Moments set off an alarm in my head. It’s important we take notice of such experiences and thank God for those special moments.

This very thing happened during the winter session of Super Saturday.  I had been teaching on the importance of the armor of God.  Each week we covered a different piece of the armor.  We were studying the helmet of salvation.  The children were sitting in a circle on the floor learning what salvation is and why it is important. Then the questions began.  A hand raised, “Miss Jen, why did Jesus stay on the cross if he was God?”  Silence fell on the room, eyes staring at me, mouths quiet.  Wow.  I was able to share that Jesus loves us so much, even when we mess up, that he stayed on the cross so one day when we were willing to accept his love and forgiveness, salvation would be available to us.  Did he have to stay on the cross and die that painful death? No, but he chose to because his love for us it that strong.  I shared that all we need to do is confess a sin and it is forgiven.  I was able to tell them that nothing is too big for God.  Hands shot up even before others were finished posing a question. They were eager learners.  Ears were listening and God was at work.  Praise God that we have those moments! 

I found out later, that the young man that had started asking questions had seen tragedy during the weeks leading up to this.  I am so thankful that Urban Family Ministries is there for the kids that have questions; there to willingly point the children and families that God so loves toward the truth. I am so thankful for such apparent God Moments.  Isn't it great that sometimes crazy, unexplained moments happen for God’s good? 

~ guest author, Jen S., volunteer

God Chooses a Few....

I love how God is always working through others to change my perspective which always results in peace of heart and mind….

It was several weeks back, and Alf Clark was preaching the Sunday evening sermon at Calvary.  I must admit that it is truly an effort for me to make this service after working a 6-day work week, volunteering at Super Saturday, attending the first service at Calvary, and then heading off to Kent Community to escort residents to their worship service.  Now, it was about 12:30 p.m. Sunday, and I just wanted to be selfish with the rest of my day….but Alf was the speaker, and if you've ever heard him preach, you understand.  I had also told my fellow volunteer, Gina, I would be there, so there was no backing out. 

Chris with one of her favorite 5 and 6 year olds.

Saturday arrived and I had no hot water, and I didn’t even want to look in the basement.  Yep, a big old flood and a plugged drain.  I spent 7-8 hours Saturday snaking out a drain, sucking up water 5 gallons at a time into a Shop Vac, rolling it to the drain (only 1 of 3 rooms is above drain level), lift and tip…27, 58, 76, 94, lost count after 100.  Sunday morning my friend Laurie's husband, Mike, arrived to assist me in getting and installing a new water heater.  Just one problem, my lower back was already on fire from Saturday and there was just me, all 5 feet 1 inch, to help Mike get the new heater down and old heater up my narrow basement stairs (my favorite part was when I was on bottom of the heater and Mike would say, "Chrissie, I gotta let go a minute - you got it?")…Oh, I am so going to pay for this.  I kept thinking, if we finish up soon enough I can lie on a heating pad for an hour or so and be able to move to make it to Calvary by 6:00p.m.  Mike, however, was in absolutely no hurry as his wife was on Day 2 of her colonoscopy prep, and she was not dealing very well with this; thus, he was perfectly happy lollygagging on this particular Sunday to avoid being at home!!

I finally made it to Calvary, praising God for IcyHot Patches and Motrin.  I didn't know what hurt the  most - sitting, standing, or walking, but I made it, like I told Gina I would (of course, after all this, I couldn't even find Gina to sit with!!).  Alf's preaching was so uplifting, and provided a much needed laugh.  Oh my, he hurried down from the platform worried about a strange noise he was hearing as though the sanctuary were going to blow. A woman who works at Calvary went up there to turn off the alarm clock that was used during a drama earlier in the evening. The whole scene was hysterical.  Okay, now for some serious preaching on serving others.  Wait a minute, what was that Alf just said? "God uses the few to impact the many."  Wow, why do I feel so impacted by this?  Is there something specific God needed me to hear tonight?  And suddenly, I understood.

Even back in my darkest, evil-living times, God led me towards serving others.  I can't seem to grasp, with all the needs out there, with so many people who have nothing but time on their hands, and with all the time we spend serving ourselves, why so many people can't spare a couple hours a week to serve others.  I know I'm wrong to think these thoughts and that it is absolutely none of my business what anyone else does.  Still, being weak and human, I find it shameful how more and more self-serving our society is becoming. 

Alf stated, "God uses the few to impact the many."  It was one of those moments when God spoke right into my heart - that, in spite of my many failings and shortcomings, God still picked me to be a part of the few.  So, thanks to Alf's sermon shared on an evening when I really wanted to stay home, I will never again look at others living only for themselves in the same light as I used to.  I will feel a bit of sadness for them that they are missing out on being a part of the few.  

~guest author, Chris, volunteer

A Night to Remember...

Jewelry? Check! 

Shoes? Check!

Dress? Check!

As I readied myself for the WCSG Father/Daughter Banquet, I couldn't help but wonder how "ma girls" were doing.  Last year, I had the pleasure of attending this Daddy/Daughter date night with my dad. Few months after the banquet, some UFM teens were talking to Mr. Dan, a faithful volunteer staff member, about the event, commenting on how they wish he would take them to the banquet in 2013.  Dan approached me shortly after his conversation with the girls asking if I'd be willing to help make this happen. 

 On Friday, April 12th, Dan escorted Mikela, Miracle, and Sarah. Luke, another volunteer, escorted Jaira and Ashari, and my dad, Dave, escorted Deshownna and me to the WSCG Father/Daughter Banquet. Each of us has a different "father" story, but this evening we were escorted by three incredible men who simply wanted to treat us all like princesses.

We rode to Hudsonville in a UFM 15 passenger van, and sashayed into the Pinnacle Conference Center in Hudsonville.  Ok, so we're not the "sashay" types, so some ran, some wobbled in on stylish heels, and the men walked coolly to the door.

The girls were all dressed to the nines in pretty dresses, cute shoes, and accessories to match. The men looked dapper and Mr. Dan wore a fancy new suit!  We met at the UFM office to snap some photos and hop in our "sweet ride."  The girls were all a flutter with anticipation.  After arriving at the event site, we found our table, got comfy and stared around the room. What fun it was to see all the dads and their daughters enjoying time with each other.  Not a frown to be seen.  

Dinner was served. A fancy dinner.  We had multiple forks and cloth napkins.  The girls were so precious as they navigated their way through this high-class affair.  We ate our salads and rolls, and waited for the main course.  The presentation was lovely, Hawaiian chicken, green beans, and mashed potatoes smothered in a Hawaiian pineapple sauce.  We dug in…but, hungry as we were, for some around the table, the fancy food did not meet their expectations, so they ate cake and rolls and salad all the while making hilarious, disgusted faces as the rest of us finished our meals.

Jason Castro, American Idol season seven fourth runner up, was the entertainment for the evening. The girls talked through much of the concert, commenting on his musical style, other people's outfits, the decorations, the food, etc.  The little girls, ages 10 and 11, tried hard to stay engaged, but the music just wasn't their style.  At one break when Jason was introducing his next song, we heard noises that sounded like radio interference. My dad and I looked down and saw that Jaira and Ashari were laying underneath a chair watching Spongebob Squarepants on someone's cell phone.

At evening's end, the emcees announced that all ladies would receive a flower as they left.  All of the girls were excited. After snapping a few more photos, we made our way to the door.  As the girls  received a carnation from the Cornerstone Radio staff, their faces lit up. Some had never received a flower before so they felt extra special.

As we rode home, the girls chattered about the event, school, friends, and the homework they had to complete over the course of the weekend.  As we left, lots of hugs were exchanged and many "thank-yous" expressed. 

What an incredible experience the evening was!  I am so thankful to be surrounded by incredible students, volunteers, and family and am so very grateful to have shared such a memorable night with such great friends.  

~guest author, Heidi, staff

Catch up with the happenings and the future...

If you are wondering what has been going on at Urban Family Ministries....

Or you're wondering what might be coming up at Urban Family Ministries....

Here is a great way to get caught up.

April 2013 E-news

Please click on the link above and check it out.

Experiencing something new...

Alden with one of the young Super Saturday attendees

     Two years ago when I was in 5^th grade, I had an awesome experience on a 3 day mission trip in downtown Grand Rapids. We were told we would stay downtown in a church and would serve with 3 different ministries in the inner-city of Grand Rapids. One such ministry was Urban Family Ministries. I thought it would be scary to do ministry with a bunch of urban city kids. I applied to go on the trip and was excited to see what God had in store for me and the ways I would see him work.

     The first day of the mission trip the guys on our team passed out fliers for a community cookout and the ladies went to Alpha Women’s Center. While passing out fliers we met some members of the community and were blessed to invited them to the cookout. That night was a great night for a cookout. We had about 2 hours of prep time and 1 hour of service. The menu consisted of hot dogs, watermelon, baked beans, and chips. We had 3 positions: serving, plating, and talking to members of the community.  I noticed when I was asking what people wanted to eat many said “we would like hot sauce on our chips.” I found that interesting.  We had a powerful moment during the cookout when a member of our team got to pray for/with one of our guests. God was moving.  The next day we spend the full day at UFM helping with projects around the office. My group was responsible for cleaning up the landscape. That was a hard but rewarding task.

 

     During our time at Urban Family Ministries I was thinking, “Wow, I can’t believe what God is doing here. This is a ministry that is helping to transform one urban kid at a time.”

     Time passed, school began, and God called me into this field of ministry. I went to the UFM website and printed out a volunteer application, had a meeting with Alf Clark, and got to know more about UFM and what it was like serving in the urban setting. I now serve at Super Saturday and help out in other areas when needed. Volunteering with this ministry is very rewarding for me. God has worked tremendously in me and through this ministry.

Praise God for all He has done!

~guest author, Alden, volunteer

Volunteering is a gift...

I believe that God desires each and every one of us to serve those less fortunate in whatever way, large or small, it is possible for us to do so. This is clear in 1 Peter 4:10 “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” (NLT)

Chris in action at Super Saturday!

I must admit that although I have volunteered on a regular basis for 30+ years, I am absolutely guilty of forgetting that my desire to volunteer my time and energy is a gift straight from my God. I forget how lost I was for so long in my prior sinful and rebellious existence, never giving God a second thought. Still, amazingly, God never gave up on me and blessed me with a willingness to serve others. Then, and what a bonus, he also surrounded me with the most incredible people - true servants of our Lord who give much more than I, always going above and beyond.

Isaiah 58:10 “Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.” (NLT). I thank you, fellow volunteers, not just for serving the wonderful children of UFM with your whole hearts and souls, but also for being shining examples for those of us struggling to be better servants of Christ.

Are you new to volunteering and thinking about committing some of your time? Don't wait, just do it and watch how much you gain in comparison to how little you give…

~ guest author, Chris, volunteer

I have more nieces and nephews...

Denise getting hugs at a Super Saturday.

     I became familiar with UFM while attending Calvary Church several years ago.   One day I asked Jim, a former UFM employee and Kitchen Crew leader, if he needed "backup" staff for the kitchen crew in case anyone called in sick or was on vacation. Jim said that would be a good idea and he would call me when needed. Sure enough, he asked me to help out one Saturday and I really enjoyed it.In the following weeks he asked me to fill in for someone on a regular basis, eventually I was asked me to come every week! I've been a part of the UFM Super Saturday kitchen for 8-10 years. I love the people I work with and I think I'm the youngest one in the kitchen! I love to say "hi" to the kids who attend Super Saturday and mingle with them when I get a chance. I really enjoy getting to know some of the kids, asking them about their lives, and showing that I care about them. I even get hugs from those that know me! I see the Super Saturday kids as an extension of my family, like my nieces and nephews. On Saturdays, there are just more nieces and nephews for me to love! I enjoy being able to spend time with 100+ great kids and still go home to my quiet condo! Even though I'm now a member of another church, I still feel very much a part of UFM.

~guest author, Denise, volunteer and Board Member

What are you DOing for God?

Jen teaching at Super Saturday

Let me ask you a question... How much time do you spend furthering-growing God's Kingdom? I mean more than praying, donating money, or encouraging someone in the ministry? Don't get me wrong, we need your prayers, lets bombard heaven’s gates with our requests for those who desperately need salvation! We need money, the ministry work is not free. We need encouragement, some days more than others! But when you sit and look at your life, day to day, how much time do you spend building your life? With work, rest, fun...and how much time do you actually give back to God? This is more than prayer, more than devotions- time in the word. This is get your hands in, reach out, get out, and DO kind of time.  

This thought hit me many years ago. I have been a believer most of my life. God has always been around. I always have prayed, learned, and tried to grow as a child of God but do-ing....what was I DOing for God?

Being a good person, a good wife, a good mom, a good daughter and sister...well, yeah. But really living a "good" life for ME on my standards according to Christian opinion. I realized giving back a few hours a week to God, to thank Him for all He has given me is a drop in the bucket. The time I spend to volunteer is a fraction of a fraction of the time I spend doing what I want.

Seriously, spending the few hours every week volunteering may make me miss some fun things, may make me miss some quiet time, some family time but really....what are we doing the other hours of the week? Don't we expect God to always be available to us? Can we give just a bit of our time for Him? God can do so much with our time budget! HE can change lives, give hope, share joy, save souls, give someone a future with the little bit of time we open up to serve.

He needs not just our hands and feet but our willingness to go and DO for Him. God CAN use you! You just need to try, go, be, and do!!!

“God’s people cannot be shamed into serving God; they need to be challenged.” ~ Jack Hyles

So I challenge you. Find a place, try a place to serve and just see what God can grow with your investment!

Galatians 5:13 "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."

Colossians 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."

~guest author, Jen S., volunteer