THANKSGIVING DAY BLESSING ANNOUNCEMENT

Thanksgiving of this year we will sponsor the “Deep Fried Turkey Thanksgiving Feast”.
We will be delivering a deep fried turkey and the fixings to the doors of many needy families in and around Sumter.
If you would like to help us with a donation of a turkey or money for a turkey please contact us 803-795-6641 or E-Mail us Helpoutguys@gmail.com

2010 Winter Coat drive update

So far this year we have been able to give to folks in need .....

143.......Winter Coats

29........Stocking Hats

80........Socks (PR)

12........Thermals

God has blessed us to be able to help so many folks this winter. When we meet the need where it is, I think we are in the will of God. As I recall when salvation came to my house...Jesus met me where I was.

Ministries involved in this drive are...

The Help Out Guys Rescue Ministries

Bethesda Church of God

Christian Medics of the Midlands

Shopping for our friends in the woods.

Between the food pantry at the Bethesda Church and Help Out Guys God was able to stock our new friends with some good solid food. We were able to spend a very nice afternoon with them. I am sure God has a plan here.

(I will write more about this as we go)

Thank You God for our new friends.... Please Bless them.

God sends us to tent city.

While we were in the park giving coats away this afternoon a man told us about some folks that lived in the woods behind the Walgreen store. After we ministered in the park, Jason and I made a beeline for the woods. We found three tents with folks living there. One man had been living in a tent in those woods for 10 years.

I will write about these new friends more in the weeks to come. God sent us to the woods today to make new friends. Thank you Lord.

It is Cold in S.C. this week. God sends us into the Cold.

The week was very cold in South Carolina. JUST PLAIN COLD !! Jason and I prayed for direction and wisdom in our assignment. We were sent to the downtown area and found some folks we had never met before and a few old friends. It was in the 20s in the daylight and really cold at night. Some of our friends live under a tarp, some live in a shelter, some live in abandoned houses, some in houses that have no windows and holes in the walls. Where ever they are living it is just cold. This day we were able to give 26 winter coats, 5 stocking hats, 4 pair of gloves and a few toys for some of the children. God allowed us to minister to these folks in a very close way today. After Jason and I had had a great church service at Bethesda Church. We were able to spend the whole day outside with many folks that were looking for warmth and a friendly smile.

God was able to show His warm love today in Sumter. You know...God is love, that good, solid, warm feeling you have when you just KNOW you are loved. If you don't know God, today is a great day to get to know him. If you do know God would you consider sharing that warm love that God has given you?

Think how cold your life could be without God. Would you share him in some way today with someone ?

Winter Coat Drive Update 12-12-09 So far....

Just a quick update for you guys..Today we went to the Lighthouse shelter with more Winter coats, New socks,and Long johns........ They were much needed there. The Manager said to us. "Boy this is right on time" . Think about that for just a second...."Right on time".........God is all of the time "Right on Time"...You know...That will preach !!!!

Ok.. so here are the numbers so far.....Winter Coats ....115
Stocking hats ...20
Socks ...........50
Thermials........10

Praise God !!! He will provide RIGHT ON TIME !!!! Yes He will !!!

BETHESDA CHURCH OF GOD SUMTER, S.C.

The Bethesda Church of God Featuring the Voices of Praise, the Bethesda Stars Children's Choir, Drama, and Live Nativity!!

You don't want to miss this!!Hallelujah! Jesus Is Born!
Time: 6:00PM Saturday, December 12, 4:00PM Sunday, December 13th, 10:45AM Sunday, December 13th

WE WOULD LIKE TO LET ALL OF OUR SUPPORTERS KNOW THAT THE "Voices of Praise - Bethesda Church of God" ARE ABSOLUTLY AWESOME. JULIA SIMS-OWENS IS A WONDERFULL MUSIC DIRECTOR.

We are sure that you will enjoy this event....

CHRISTMAS PARADE IN SUMTER S.C.

THE MINISTRY WAS IN THE CHRISTMAS PARADE IN SUMTER TODAY. GODS WORD WAS FRONT AND CENTER FOR ALL TO SEE....Acts 16:31
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

GODS WORD WILL NOT RETURN VOID..................

Thanksgiving Day Blessing ...More Photos see story below.

PLEASE SEE THE UNION STATION STORY 2 STORIES BELOW.....
6500 PEOPLE FED IN THE PARK ON THANKSGIVING DAY.

Preaching in the Park.....Sumter, S.C.

Sumter S.C. Preaching in the park homeless event.
Jason attended this event and...
God equipped him to give out about 50 winter coats, a large bag of new toys, and a large amount of shirts and pants and stocking caps during this event. Many about 150 folks were fed and ministered to. This day 3 people accepted Christ as their Savior. The following is just one story a minister told from that day……...

“Spent my time talking to a man named Wendell. He is 48 and suffered a stroke 4 years ago which left him with paralysis in his left arm and leg. He had walked 4 blocks to get there for the meal, which was extremely difficult for him. He shared his story with me,... and all he could do was talk about how much God has blessed him. He told me of the time he served in the Army, about his children he is so proud of, about being able to see his Momma this Thanksgiving... he never once complained about his situation. He does have a home, but shared with Scott that he has no kerosene for his heater, so that was taken care of after the meal. Thank you God for giving us opportunities to be your hands and feet!”

Many ministries and volunteers attended this event to make it a success...(The Body of Christ working together)

In the last two months our coat drive has equipped us to give our more than 120 winter coats so far… God has truly blessed this joint effort between the Bethesda Church of God, Help Out Guys Rescue Ministries, and Christian Medics of the Midlands

Thanksgiving Day Blessing

Thanksgiving day…Pasadena California…..UNION STATION HOMELESS MINISTRIES..
While visiting family for Thanksgiving I crossed paths (God sent Appointment) with supporters of UNION STATION who was conducting a feed the needy event in Central Park in Pasadena. After one phone call and some discussion with family members is was set….On Thanksgiving my grandson and I spent time in the park with this ministry. This event brought together thousands of volunteers to serve a hearty meal and holiday cheer to our less fortunate community members. This year we served more than 6,500 meals on Thanksgiving to people who were homeless, senior citizens, alone at the holidays, or unable to afford a holiday meal. This was a wonderful event to be involved with. I saw many Volunteers, Rabbis, Pastors, Preachers, Chaplains, and Community leaders working to “Show the Love’ To Thousands that don’t feel the Love from day to day.
I can’t thank my God enough for allowing me to be involved with this event on the west coast. My Grandson and I spent a wonderful day with this ministry. You know…even on vacation God will set those God sent appointments for us. All we need to do is recognize the appointment (Know His Voice) and when the door opens just JUMP in…..

This is a great ministry. please look them up on the web as they are in many cities. If you are looking for a ministry to support this may the one for you.

Mrs, "Gs" home

Look down on the blog for the story ..Rebuild the house for Ms, "G"

A few God led folks, Good team work, Good friends and family.

and her home looks like this.

God knows what you have need of....Just have a talk with Him today.

Mrs 'G' Did..........

COATS FOR THE WINTER. (PROTECTION)

Wow.. What a weekend !!! Jason and I took to the streets. We had 72 winter coats with us that folks at the Bethesda Church of God gave us. We were led to many folks that were homeless or just in a jam and did not have any proctection from the cold. At the end of the day we had given out 63 winter coats. We made many new friends. We were able to spend some good time with our new friends on Saturday afternoon. Think about this for a momnent, in a few hours we were abvle to locate and give out more than 60 winter coats. These were folks that NEEDED...(Fill in the blank).
Some needed a coat, some needed a coat for the children, some needed hope, Some need shelter, and some JUST NEEDED A FRIEND....Just a little love.

The coolest thing about the day (For me) was my 5 year old grandson Miles went out with us for the first time. He was great, at one point he said to three men sitting on a bench " did you know ?" " For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23" THATS MY BOY !!!!!! What day we had !! Thats a 4th generation minister right there !!!!!

I wonder how many folks we come in contact with during our busy day, NEED. You know how we all get some times..Just Busy. We could miss a real God moment if we dont keep our eyes and hearts open.

As you move around this Monday ......Look for it.....The God moment !! and when it comes...Just reach out and give someone a helping hand, or a kind word. what would this world look like if we all just showed the LOVE !!!!

You know...Jesus walked this earth and showed the love.

Request for Prayer...For this Ministry

It looks like there may be a bit of a change in the air for this Ministry. We are considering affiliating with a very large ministerial fellowship located in Chattanooga Tenn. As we go though the process and the wheels begin to turn...Please Pray that this is the right move and that God will bless this union or stop it.

Remember the FDNY 343 today

9-11... We shall never forget We shall keep this day, We shall keep the events and the tears In our minds, our memory and our hearts and take them with us as we carry on. ``If we learn nothing else from this tragedy, we learn that life is short and there is no time for hate, "Never forget the FDNY 343"

PEE WEE went home

Just a note:

Our friend Pee Wee who we found living in the junk yard, went home to Heaven.

You know.....He lived in the junk yard for 15 years, but his last few years he was in a retirement home. He had good food, clean bed, friends, and nursing folks looking after him. I will miss him just a bit, but this I am sure of...Jason and I saw him give his life to Jesus one afternoon in the junk yard and God delivered him from that junk yard. I know he made it to his reward !!!

See past post on this site concerning Pee Wee.

NO MORE JUNK YARDS FOR PEE WEE. AMEN

WINTER COAT DRIVE IN PROGRESS

So.. last year we joined up with my Church , The Bethesda Church of God in Sumter S.C. for a winter coat drive. As Jason and I went into the streets to give these coats away, we noticed that a local sporting goods store was going out of business.
I was able to speak with the store folks and found out that in a few weeks all of those sports jackets and hoodies would be on absolute clearance for 60 to 70% off !! So we spoke with our Pastor and our church. You know, the money and jackets and blankets came rolling in. God is so good !! We took to the streets with those coats and blankets. My best guess is that God blessed us with about 90 coats,hoodies and 30 blankets. You know that God directed us to those folks who needed them the most, those folks that were living under the bridge, or in the shelter, or in the runaway shelter. Within two or three weeks all of the coats were out in the streets.

As we went, we had the best conversations about God and the matters of Heaven and how God cares for us and loves us. Much, Much, Much ministry took place over these weeks.

SIDE NOTE::: One day a guy passed me on an old busted up scooter on Broad street. (It was Cold) this guy was sporting a brand new, clean, crisp (Green Bay Packers) Coat. It just made me smile a bit as he rode by.

THE PHOTOS ABOVE ARE OF THE BAGS AND BAGS OF NEW COATS GOD PROVIDED AND A FEW OF THE FOLKS THAT RECEIVED THE COATS.

So, it is that time again. Winter is coming soon. We have started the coat drive here in Sumter and are expanding to Columbia also. We are going to join with the Christian Medics of the Midlands and the Bethesda Church of God to cover this area with the love of God. If you are in our area...Will you join us?? If you are not in this area...Will you answer His call??

The great commission !!! Working to show the love that Christ shows us every day.

Please take just one moment and ask our creator..Where do I go? Who do I help?... When he answers.......JUST GO... IN THE NAME OF JESUS.

Preaching in the Park.....Sumter, S.C.

On Sunday (yesterday) we joined with two other ministries in the park in Sumter S.C. to minister to the folks that live in the street. Those folks that live in boxes and under bridges and in the junk yards. At least 100 people came out. We had a big "back yard cook out" there in the park. Many ministers were able to get into the crowd and minister 1 on 1.

We were able to give them all new socks, new underwear, and new tee shirts. God allowed us to connect with them in a personal way.

Great preaching, Good music, good food, Good fellowship.

David Branson brought Gods word for the crowd...(Repentance)

Ministers in action! The Great Commission working.

A friend of ours called this home......

Over time we were able to meet this man who lived in this junkyard (See the other stories on the Blog) The story is posted below.....

This is a brief story about a guy named Bernard, and how God has recently poured out some wonderful blessings on him. We have known Bernard for few years now, and know him to be a hard working guy. Although he was homeless he was not afraid of hard work. He would work all day for whatever wage he was given for the day, and return to some meager place to lay his head. I often thought of how hard it must be to work and sweat all day and not be able to take a shower at the end of it all, before bedding down in a camper or even a car in the junk yard. In addition to being homeless he also had to depend on others to get him to his work for the day, and then back "home" again. I wonder how many times he was left to fend for himself after a hard and honest days work. Over the years Bernard has had some faithful friends to assist him with many of his needs, including a scooter that he had for a brief time that was "stolen" from him. Very recently we were moved to replace his scooter and the Lord provided the means for that to happen. We were very excited when this came together. In fact, we shopped out what we thought would be a really good scooter and carefully put it together when it arrived. This one has keyless start, and more importantly a SECURITY SYSTEM. We wanted it to be just right. After the Lord gave us great favor to get his paper work in order, and the scooter running just right, it was time to share the joy with Bernard that we were already feeling. When we took the scooter to him he was blown away. When we told him that it was for him, he exclaimed "NO!" in amazement. He no longer had to depend on anyone else to get him back and forth to work. Just afterwards we learned that another brother in Christ was going to let Bernard stay in his vacant rental house that he was working on. He was no longer "homeless". Oh, and I forgot to mention the best part of all--Bernard gave his heart to the Lord!

So here is the update....Benard is living in a house on Hyw 15, He has 2 full time jobs and one part time job..He is doing well..He attends our church and is very involved in our sunday school program for men. He is doing well....

Once he was living in a car in the junk yard, now God has blessed him greatly. You never know how God will use you...Benard just needed a little lift up....and salvation came to his house that day. Now his life is so much better....


How will God use you??? Will you be intune to Gods will? Who around you. who will need a lift up? LOOK FOR IT........

Rebuild the house for Ms, "G"

The Ministry learned of a woman in our church with an extremely urgent need. She had very little time before she would have to move into a small home that was very much unlivable. I have to admit that when I looked at the property and I considered our resources at the time I was hesitant to accept the project as a HelpOutGuy project. The doubt was a big mistake on my part. God really took that as an opportunity to show off and show us just how UNLIMITED His resources are. We accepted the project and began to work on the house. The framing was exposed in many places as the walls and ceilings were missing any veneer in places. The plumbing needed work, the electrical system needed work, and there was no heating or airconditioning. Many of the windows were broken out, and there was not a working bathroom or kitchen. There was also not a stitch of insulation in the house.
It would take much to long to list all of the details of the project as it envolved many wonderful people and several months. As we began to work on the house to make it safer and more comfortable to live in I was amazed at the support that we received both financialy and in willing vessels. We were able to replace damaged framing, resurface walls and ceilings, put in new carpet, install central heat and air, cabinets, and fix the windows. We were also able to put in a water heater, and a new tub. We also insulated every wall in the house. Much of the materials and the labor was donated and the work that we did pay for served as a second ministry to some folks that needed work. Praise God! Even with all of the donated time and materials it still proved to be a very expensive ministry project. In fact it cost much more than the money that the ministry had in the beginning. But just as the vessels and the oil, the more we poured out, the more that was there. God continualy supplied all of our needs. It was amazing how God ministered to so many people, in so many ways through the one project. And at the end, the house was transformed! I am so thankful that God is "able to do exeedingly, abundantly, above all we can ask, or even think".

Joe (Update)

Joe is still working at his job full time. Still lives in the blue house downtown, things are looking good. He is now the Assistant Pastor at his church. Please continue to pray for Pastor Joe..

A Great Man of God goes Home to his Reward

Sumter County (WLTX) -- The Chaplain of the Sumter Fire Department has died after being involved in a motorcycle accident Tuesday afternoon.

According to Sumter Fire Captain Brian Horton, 64-year-old Chaplain Gene Franklin was killed in the line of duty while on his way to the hospital to visit a fireman.

Troopers say the accident happened around 2:20pm near the intersection of Highway 441 and Black River Road. Franklin was riding a 1999 Honda motorcycle when he ran into the side of a 1995 Lincoln town car. Troopers say the 84-year-old driver of the Lincoln failed to yield the right-of-way.

Franklin was airlifted to Palmetto Richland in Columbia where he died about an hour later.

Franklin was a Baptist minister for 42 years and was the pastor at High Hills Baptist Church. Her also served as chaplain for the Department of Corrections for 30 years. Franklin had been with the Sumter fire department since the early 1970s.

Franklin leaves behind a wife, son, two daughters and numerous grandchildren.

Funeral services will be announced by Bullock Funeral Home of Sumter.




And Jesus took his own hand and wiped away his tears,
And he smoothed the furrows from his face,
And the angels sang a little song,
And Jesus rocked him in his arms,
And kept a-saying: Take your rest,
Take your rest.

Weep not--weep not,
He is not dead;
He's resting in the bosom of Jesus

Is everything ok ???

You know when you walk by someone and you feel the need to speak or say is every thing OK ? You know when you can just feel that the person you are passing is in some distress on some drama is going on. Do you speak or keep walking ??? Think about it for a moment. WHAT DO YOU DO ??

One morning I was walking past a man I know as Joe he works at the same place I do. He does not work for the same company just at the same location . As I walked past Joe I just knew that his spirit was down. Something in his life was wrong. The closer I got the more I felt it. As I walked past him we exchanged greetings and kept going. I could not let him pass. I turned and ask....Hey ! is everything OK ?

Joe smiled and said Yep God is good. It was just kinda cold last night. This comment led us into a conversation. Joe is a single father raising a teen aged son on a minimum wage job. Joe comes to work every day and works until he cant work any longer. He is a good Godly man trying to live a good life. He rides a bike several miles to work each day. His son is in the local high school. Joe was living in a very bad crack infested neighborhood. He had to get his son away from the bad hood so he found this small house across town to rent. (SEE THE PHOTO) Still not in a great hood but better. I learned that Joe had no power, Not much food, No heat, and Not much furniture at all. Sleeping on the floor. He was working on it as best he could manage. As we spoke about the situation he was careful to give God praise for allowing him out of where he was.....While he was talking I knew just what needed to be done. I was sure that this was a God directed encounter. He was in need and I knew that we could help him. A God directed appointment indeed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Over the next few weeks things began to happen...folks came into our sight that were looking for someone that was in need. I am sure God sent them and so a team was assembled. Over the next few weeks God allowed us to... Turn on Joe's Heat and power, His son got a ton of new cloths for school, A new refrigerator, A kitchen full of food several times over, furniture for the bed rooms, new linens for both beds, and on and on !!!

Through this team that God assembled for this assignment Joe has been blessed for more than a year and it is still going on. Joe still rides his bike to church every Sunday both morning and afternoon.

Thank you God that you task me with asking this guy I did not even know "is everything OK?" Now Joe is our friend .

I will tell more stories on this ministry assignment as time goes by....But I want to leave you with this...

HAVE YOU FELT IT ? THAT DESIRE TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE OR JUST TO SAY A KIND WORD AS YOU PASS A STRANGER?... DID YOU ANSWER THAT CALL OR LET IT GO BY??? THIS SUNDAY WHILE YOU ARE IN CHURCH LOOK TO YOUR LEFT AND RIGHT ARE THOSE FOLKS IN NEED ? DO THEY HURT? ASK GOD TO GIVE YOU THAT DIRECTION AND BOLDNESS TO ASK...........IS EVERYTHING OK???

and so we will go as God directs.

Tha Alaska Trip...COLD and DARK

Some time ago we were sent to Alaska a small town called Keni.
There is a Church of God there that has a christian retreat center. It looks like a wilderness hotel with a great big campground. It is used for kids camp for kids from all over the state. It is a big deal there. The camp runs for several weeks. When the camp is not in use it is used to house the homeless and folks that need a "lift up" ( Alaska is no place not to have shelter). This is a great ministry. But as you can imagine building is an issue there because of money and the weather. We teamed up with the South Aiken Church of God and became the camps build team. We built buildings, Sheds, Dorms, and a nice lean to. While were there God moved among us in ways that is hard to describe. We had many services during our visit. On one night two folks were saved. Praise God !! Another was burned while cooking. He was healed right in front of our eyes. This was a tremendous trip. they were blessed and we were blessed.

Oh yes...... I even learned how to fish for Soki Salmon !!!

What a great mission trip this was.

Peru update...

Since our mission group came back from Peru. The mission group just could not let this mission go ! God had more !! So over the past few months The missions group, Our Church, The Help Out Guys Rescue Ministry, ans some friends got together and God allowed us to provide 8 wells for 8 towns that did not have any water at all.

Think about it... 8 Whole towns had No drinking water at all...And God sent a few folks to Peru. From that visit Real drinking wells are in these towns absolutely free of charge.

God has given power to these few folks and real change came to a county very far away. Together we can change this whole world.

Praise God for allowing theHelpoutguys Rescue Ministry to be a part of this effort.

4 trips to Hilton Head Island.

A few months ago my father had a stroke. He was in the hospital for a long while. Jason and I felt the direction to go and visit a few times and so we did. We were able to minister to him and pray for him. When he got home he found that his Condo was not wheel chair accessible at all, He had a great deal of trouble getting down the hall and in to the bathroom. None of the doors would accommodate his wheel chair.

After a phone conversation with him and then with Jason. We knew what we were going to do. We would go to my Fathers home make the renovations to his home, minister while we worked and we would pay for it. We prayed up and went to work. Over the next two weeks we traveled to the Island and worked on his home while he watched. The whole time we worked we were in minister mode. Our conversation with him and our actions in front of him were of God and Kingdom related things. On the last day of renovation and work. I sat down with my dad and spoke with him about salvation. I opened a Bible that I had bought him two years ago and opened it to the salvation plan. I told him to read it and think about it and I would give him a call in a day or so.

a few days later (Sunday)Pastor Sims preached two messages that just got me fired up like crazy ! At the end of the message on Sunday night he said to the congregation ' I want you all to commit to winning at least one person to the Lord this year" I got a touch like lightning right then. I knew what I had to do. After church I went to the truck and called my father on the phone we talked all the way home.

You see he was ready to talk, he had read the words in the Bible, thought about what God had done trough us and the words God had spoken to him trough us over the past two weeks. The result of all of these chain of events that led us to that conversation that night was that my father accepted Christ and is saved. Heaven Bound !!!

God knows all. If we just obey and go with His flow the things we can accomplish for the kingdom are endless.

Praise God Another soul Heaven bound by His grace and mercy.

Our church went to Peru

Some time ago I told about the Bethesda Church of God sending ministers to Peru.
God allowed Jason and I to be able to provide a well for drinking water for the whole village. Jason felt directed of God to provide some money for dolls and soccer balls for the children. Here is a photo of some of the kids in Peru with those toys. Look at the expressions on the faces of those little girls. Wow ! How good is our God !!

The last work day at Nate's

This Sat. was the last day working at Nate's. Grand Ma will come home this week.
Everyone came out for a long hard rewarding day to finish up all of the issues and Jobs that needed finishing.

Grandma gets home from the hospital !! A new home !!

Grand ma came home from the hospital today. She was very appreciative of the efforts of this team. The house looked great, the Ac was cool (It was 110 outside today) everything was in good order for her home coming. This was a very good day. God put together a great team to make this happen for her and Nate.

God is a great God. Truly he is our provider.