Hi brethren in Christ,
I am happy to announce to you that the church has called me to be their pastor effective this Monday. Glory to God in the highest. Although there are a lot of challenges yet I am hopeful that the Lord will do HIS own thing through me to bring the needed change. Thanks for your prayers.
I had high hopes for this book. Platt is the pastor of a SBC mega-church in Birmingham, AL. Reviews I had read his book shortly after its publication implied that this book was a clarion call to a consumption oriented Americanized Christian culture, akin to Luther nailing his theses to the door at Wittenberg. Dear Pastor Coston and Mallory,
On behalf of all the children and staff at Kids Alive Lebanon I want to extend a grateful thank you the Calvary Church. We were greatly blessed this month to have members of your church join our family for a short while. This was a significant thing for us since it has been decades since a we’ve hosted a volunteer team from the U.S. so the church did something a bit groundbreaking!
Everyone was very encouraged and impressed by the team. They were outstanding individuals who worked very well together as a group. Each one had gifts and abilities that they put to effective use. I was personally impressed by the willingness to jump in and participate. Nothing was ever quite organized or prepared, yet they easily caught the flow of the ministry and did their part comfortably. Most important was the teams heart for the boys. They loved well and reflected Christ’s character to our boys. I know they boys will hold on to the experience well into the future.
Lebanon presented a fair host of challenges from strange foods and bacteria, hot summer weather without air conditioning, fatigue and jet lag, and difficult boys routinely test boundaries and patience among other things. Then there was the personal loss for Les and Lanna that added stress to already stressful circumstances. Through it all they all were troopers, enduring through challenges with perseverance and a positive attitude. As the staff member responsible for the team I was extremely relieved to experience the graciousness and kindness of the members. They put so little demands on me. It was a true pleasure to serve them as they served us. Our only complaint is that they only stayed for one week, we would have loved two!
I appreciate the role you and the entire Calvary family played in this mission trip. We acknowledge it was an extension of your church’s ministry and we are thankful for the support and fellowship of our Brothers and Sisters in the Lord. Clearly God’s hand has directed this all. I remember sitting last summer with Tim and Sheila dreaming about the possibility, and this summer we experienced it in a way that superseded our expectations.
We are very greatly for the Calvary’s faithfulness to answer God’s call to missions and partnership with the global church. We will pray that God continues to direct your ministries local and global, and we will hope that your partnership with Lebanon continues into the future.
Perhaps you may able to join us someday too! Inshallah (God willing!).
Salaam Aliekum
(Peace be Upon you)
Brent Hamoud
Greetings from Ghana. I thank the Lord that He has been ordering my steps every hour and moment to bring me to a successful end in His ministry. A local church in an area that divides the Christian South and the Muslim North in Ghana wants me to be their minister. As their tradition demands I have to go there and have a revival service with them before the congregation will assess me and cast their vote. I will finish a week’s program by tomorrow. The church was started by the Nigerian migrants but when they left Ghana the indigenous people (Gh Baptists) took over and brought it under Ghana Baptist Convention. I have also been organizing seminars and revivals for other Baptist churches in Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo region. I visited a poor Muslim community in the north with my friend from Waco (Chris)with an intention of bringing the women together to form a coops to run an income generating venture as a way of helping them to come out of the poverty. I am thinking of establishing a small GARI (made from cassava) processing plant to process raw cassava into gari which can easily be exported to other urban centers and cities for sale. This can indeed turn their lives around for good. Counting on your prayers. God be with you all. Thanks.
Below shows some of my family pics and where I stay currently.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1051253849417.2009600.1467883552
Kwame
1 469 619 6544
"All that is required for evil to triumph is for a few good men to do nothing."
- Edmund Burke -
"When you want change, first you have to say what's wrong."
- John Geer -
North Waco “Near Northside” Area Master Plan Moves On
“Near Northside Redevelopment Master Plan” adopted
Earlier today, Mr. Michael Bennett, CEO of Gideon-Toal in Ft. Worth, presented to the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce the recently completed “Near Northside Master Plan.” The plan is the result of over a year of work by these consultants, local community leaders, and public meetings in North Waco to revitalize the area, generally bounded by N. 18th and the Brazos River and W. Waco Drive and Herring Ave. It was primarily funded by local stakeholders in the North Waco area, as well as the City, Chamber and local businesses. The plan shows both assets and challenges, including the growing positive synergy of numerous activities occurring in the N. 15th/Colcord Ave area, access to the Brazos River, as well as excessive vacant property and zoning inconsistencies.
Greater Chamber of Commerce approves resolution affirming plan
The Waco Chamber unanimously passed the attached resolution, including both the process and content, of the Near Northside plan as a part of the Downtown Development project, as well as affirming the City’s role is getting control of Parkside Villages for redevelopment. The recent negotiations with H.U.D. gives the City of Waco the right to demolish existing abandoned apartments, and create multi-use property and mixed income housing. With the adopted Master Plan in place, this component of the strategy is a huge success.
City of Waco also engages in ways to embrace North Waco revitalization
Bennett also recently presented the same content in June to the Waco City Council, with dialogue from Council regarding design overlays, zoning, challenges, and impact. District IV Council member, Toni Herbert, has been advocating for improvements in the historic neighborhood for years, as well as Rick Allen.
Phase II...Implementation of Strategies
With an approved plan in place, stakeholders will now begin the implementation phase of the various strategies within the document. Efforts to find local “champions” to promote economic and community development in the area is critical, as well as encouraging local investment and incentives.
Change is already happening!
Currently the entire corner of N. 15th and Colcord is under construction with a newly designed street which helps control speeds and makes the pedestrian traffic safer for children in the nearby school. New lighting, planter boxes, and even outside eating will be in place by mid-August. Construction of Family Health Center’s new two-story building is nearing completion. New and renovated housing has been occurring in the area for several years by Habitat for Humanity, Waco CDC, and NeighborWorks. The area has become popular because of its diversity with several residents desiring a blended environment. The two neighborhood schools, West Ave and Brook Ave, continue to make significant academic progres. Both D’s Mediterranean Grill, Beatniks, North Waco Tropical Fish and Mission Waco’s “World Cup Café” have been drawing significant customers. The remodeled Jubilee Theatre had a very successful first season last year and currently has numerous requests for rentals including events such as talent shows, cultural dance, social justice films, meetings, and musical presentations. Last year’s “Better Block Project” and Jubilee Music Festival was attended by hundreds of families from all around the city filling the streets. (Sat, Oct 9 this year!).
Join us!
If you are interested in knowing more about the area and how you can get involved, send us an email.
