During a debrief meeting after Saddleback Church celebrated it's 30th Easter at Angel Stadium, Rick was anxiously awaiting the report of how the homeless recieved the message and wanted thank those who helped to organized the bus ride. You can watch it here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=wOSGiHZgt0I

For almost four years the Outreach team at the Studio Inn had been using EZ-ups. Ron Wilbur tells how first they hauled them in and out of storage via pickups twice a month. Then we bought a trailer and unloaded and loaded them every other week. Then we were blessed to be allowed by the Studio Inn management to go weekly.

The EZ-ups were getting beat. The nylon carrying bags were getting torn up, the canopies were getting holes, and some of the frames were breaking. In Nov 2009 it became obvious that this wasn't a sustainable model, since we would soon be replacing ten EZ-ups. We started thinking about alternatives. Bingo! What if we just bought some tarps, tied them together and used them to make a tent? After a month of studying the idea we bought two 20x30 ft tarps and ten PVC pipes. Game on! On January 3, 2010 we celebrated the first services in our new "building," the tent. Hey, Saddleback has used tents for worship for a long time. No reason we couldn't do it for Breakfast Together.

Instead of $1300 or more for EZ-ups, we put up a new tent with more room, better light inside, lighter to carry, fewer parts, easily repaired and cheaply replaced - for under $250!

Steve Stills, who led the worship team, shares about a resent service in the new tent: Great Studio Inn Church today. Inspiring message from Steve Wilson "What's Your writing on the wall?", First comes Obedience then comes blessing. Awesome worship with the church - thanks Henry Moreno and Meredith White . Thanks to all the volunteers - you guys rock!

The photos tell the story

(download)

Click here to download:

Church_in_a_Box_beat_the_heat_.zip (1.05 MB)

One day Daniel stumbled on the Breakfast Together Outreach in Costa Mesa and met a man named Ben. Daniel was living on the streets and looking for hope and direction. Ben shared his faith with Daniel and the Lord began to work in Daniel's life in mighty ways. Ben was there for Daniel as friend to help guide him into this new life of purpose. 

Recently, Ben has been battling cancer and suffers from great fatigue due to the chemo treatments. Now Daniel is the stronger friend and has helped Ben get around since he can't safely drive long distances. Daniel is also volunteering his time at Saddleback Church serving those who served him!

Hear Ben tell a story of when he met Daniel on YouTube:

I am sad to inform everyone that Kelly McCune passed away from a heart attack early this morning. Kelly was an amazing ambassador for the Lord on the streets. He brought many people to the homeless outreach, showing many of them love and encouragement throughout the week. Kelly was the first person from the homeless outreach to get baptized at Saddleback Church. We will make an announcement this Sunday on his passing and plan on having a memorial service on October 3rd (Sunday).

His last words to me three days ago were, "Chris, thank you so much for the sermon on guilt. I was able to let go of things today. I needed this message. Keep going on the path God has put you on, and never let anything get in your way. I love you." Now he is with our Lord in Heaven, free from all pain and suffering.

He touched the lives and hearts of so many people. I will personally miss his so much. I never came across anyone so encouraging and appreciative. He would always express his thankfulness for the volunteers and how much they are needed on the streets. Also, he would often say how much he would get out of the messages every week.

Please pray for everyone affected by this loss, including his friends and family.

 

Here is a picture to remember him by from the day he was baptized at Saddleback last year.

  Chris Anders

Our Breakfast Together Outreach we had for a few years in Santa Ana is moving. We are not sure where yet but have a few ideas. We need God's wisdom and protection. Please pray for our leadership team as they are praying and meeting to find a new home to reach out to the homeless.

Last fall the Breakfast Outreach guest particiapted in a special service along with Saddleback Church's recovery campaign. By the way, thank you Steve Hibler for providing us the Cross for this occasion. We were on our 6th choice of Life's Healing Choices (the Relationship Choice), where as you can see in the pictures we have about 15-20 people nailing names to the cross. Forgiveness is a difficult for most of us all to learn, and I was blessed to be able to witness this.

We hope we can establish a new home so those regular guests can benift from the upcoming Decade of Destiny campaign.

 

I have always been grateful for the opportunity you gave me to serve at Al-God-on...
As I mentioned earlier, I am watching God's Grace right before my eyes. When I was serving down at the Algodon, Craig was always there to help. When he wasn't there, he would apologize. Craig, as you know doesn’t have many possessions, very little purpose and God was there but only a very little too. He had his issues, like we all do....

Today I saw God's Grace....
Craig was down at the Homeless Baseball field with us, so we had an opportunity to chat. First of all, I called him a movie star, (because I watched his YouTube Video) and in all humility he laughed it off...We chatted some more and looking at him I realized how God is working on him. From where he was a few years ago, until now...WOW... I guess the topper was when he said. "I am taking over your place at Al-God-on....God had instilled in him a purpose....Praise God....Isn't that what is all about....Serving someone.....Making a difference in someone's life...and watching God make changes right before your eyes......

This to me, is very emotional, I am so blessed to be a part of God's Plan....Thank you Craig for making a difference in someone's life.

Praise God in Everything

Al Powell