Murder, The Homeless, Gifts, and Merry Christmas

For as long as I can remember, I have loved Christmas. I don’t recall always having the best Christmases, but I always remember the joy of the season. It took my adulthood before I think I fully appreciated the meaning of Christmas, and even as a Christian and follower of Jesus, it still took some time to come to a place where I think I got it, at least for me. It was unfortunately through many tough times that I finally think I got it.

Over the last number of years I have tried to spend some time studying the historical character of St. Nicholas; I think the real St. Nick got it, it was really more about serving others and sharing the love of Jesus with the least of these, including prisoners, the poor and children that he shared the true and ultimate gift of God’s son with others. It is in showing love that we share the ultimate love with others; there is no greater gift that was given to the people of planet earth more important than the promise of a savior who would be a deliverer of, the poor.

This Christmas as has the last few Christmases for me been rather unique. I seem to work and be busier than any other time of year. This year with the operation of the Mosaic Women’s Homeless Shelter the business of this season has been multiplied, but it has also provided the opportunity to see more blessings.

This Sunday is Christmas and Mosaic is having an Old Fashioned Family Christmas Celebration. It is still time for the Mosaic Family, including those on line and others to be a part of this celebration. We plan to open up the doors on Christmas morning at 8 AM. From 8 AM – 10:30 AM we will be having a time of fellowship with snacks, coffee, hot chocolate and other things of that nature. We will have Christmas music on in the background and will also have several times where we break out and just sing some songs together. At 10:30 Santa will be on hand to share the gift of Jesus and the love of Mosaic and her friends with the homeless. Those who had placed their names on the Angel Tree will be given their Christmas Presents, and any extra presents that come in will be handed out, by # and order of arrival to additional homeless people. Just a note here, last week, we had 57 homeless people attend our meeting and we have been averaging over 30 who are attending our Sunday Discussion time prior to the start of church. Those gifts will be given out accordingly and individuals will have the opportunity to have their photo taken with Santa. We expect the celebration to end around 1 PM and people can come and go as they choose during those hours. We also have a large amount of clothing that has been provided by various groups that we will start giving out at 10:30 AM.

This week we have also had the reminder of the blessings of this church. We have seen it in an unfortunate way though with the recent murder of Marshall Haushulz. I spent some time with Marshall’s girlfriend last evening speaking to her and Darrell Durbin one of our homeless volunteers and church participants who gave Marshall his sleeping bag and camp location. I am very much aware of a lot that is going on in this investigation. As the number of suspects are coming down, and the police are narrowing in let me say this, this murder and some of the events surrounding it play into the need for the Mosaic Day program, church, and ministry that we carry out. I won’t go into detail, but as this investigation continues, many will know, God is using Mosaic, but there is more that can be done by Mosaic and her people. The bottom line though, the homeless of our city need a place to call home, not a place where they receive service, special treatment or things of that sort, but a place to call home, be treated with respect, and provided a safe atmosphere where they can come without the threat of being threatened, harassed or disrespected by service providers. I am honored and blessed that we have done what we can.

We started 4 years ago, Santa for the Homeless where we hand out items to the homeless and provide them love. This year we get to do it for the first time in our own church, downtown, where many of the homeless attend. There will be everything from coats to for some who requested it and more, cigarettes given out on Christmas day. The homeless, who are a part of our church, and many others, will get something they want for Christmas because God cares enough to provide not just our needs, but sometimes our wants. Jesus is the ultimate gift, and believe me, we will share that gift among all others. You are welcome to attend, or to donate to provide additional gifts to the homeless, or to just help meet Mosaic’s basic needs of being open. It is up to you, but above all, remember Jesus, the redeemer of the poor this Christmas. Remember the love, healing and salvation he provides for all people, whether the millionare who needs to be released from their pride, or a homeless person who needs the confidence of a meal or warmth for the night. Salvation implies not just salvation from the spiritual needs, but also the physical. For many in our city, they know, Mosaic is doing her part.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your continued prayers and support. We need them, and God is hearing them.

Please pray for our future, our needs, and those we are called to serve.

If you haven't please visit our web site where you can also contribute to the ministry at www.mosaicwichita.com you can also email me at mikefurches@yahoo.com

Blessings,

Pastor Mike

Lastly, we now have a way folks can contribute to Mosaic online. If interested in sharing with Mosaic online you can visit the following link and do so. Just designate what your gift is for when you donate, you can designate gifts for ‘general funds,’ ‘capitol campaign,’ or ‘homeless program.’

If the button doesn’t appear, you can give at the following link - https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=G6KQJMMUS72CA

All contributions to Mosaic are tax-deductible. If mailing contributions to Mosaic, you can send them to the following address:

Mosaic Wichita
216 S. Market St.
Wichita, KS 67202

Blessings to you and have a great week.

Mike

Mosaic Church Web Site

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Recent Murder Impacts Mosaic

Is there a need for Mosaic? With the murder of a Mosaic attendee and participant in the last few days, you tell me? Many have heard of the individual who was murdered near Wichita’s The Keeper of The Plains on Friday. The abuse, hatred, and neglect is nothing new to us, in fact, it is an all too common story for those who serve, live with, and are a part of this community. This community is, and I am honored to say, an important part of life for Mosaic. They make up the majority of our church, and they are among the primary population group we have chosen to serve in ministry because we believe, I believe, it is commanded in scripture that we do so. Frankly, at this time of year, I am incensed that this type of abuse, the lack of concern continues to take place in our city.

Mosaic is a church that even this week, is trying to make a difference, not just in the shelter space we provide every night for women, but even today and tomorrow as we have brought in William Fosterr, a mentally ill, former homeless musician from Tulsa Oklahoma to perform for our church. Last night many were talking about the murder, yet others were talking about the inspiration that was provided by William. Many shared at how he was among the best guitar players, singers they had ever heard, and others shared about how important it was to have someone who had been in their shoes providing hope. How important is this message to William, he even offered to help me pay for gas to come do the shows he is doing. He isn’t getting paid, isn’t receiving any compensation, but is willing to come to Wichita from Tulsa to give of his life and service. William will be performing today at 2:30 where we finish up some of the filming that has gone on over the last year and a half for a documentary movie being made on his life and tomorrow morning for the worship service at Mosaic that starts at 10:30.

During the normal discussion times tomorrow, Sunday at 9:30 we will be discussing with the homeless as to what we can do to better serve and protect the homeless. We hope those who care attend. As a church, we have a responsibility and obligation to serve those who are a part of our body of believers; the homeless are a part of our body.

Next week on Christmas morning we also give back, we will have an old fashioned Christmas Morning where we will provide a family gathering for our body, including, the homeless. Every name was taken off of our angel tree and we will provide those gifts as well as additional gifts being given. Santa will be attending and providing love to the homeless.

Today, some will say, there is a lot about the homeless here, I will say, you bet there is. When there have been some who have left our fellowship because we 'do too much for the homeless,’ and others who question our ministry, (btw a ministry Jesus commands all of the church to do) and with the recent murder of a homeless person we were honored and privileged to serve, you bet there is mention of the homeless, there is mention of the homeless because Jesus came to earth as a poor, homeless person, who was born in a feeding troth to provide salvation and redemption for all people, including the poor and homeless. There is more that we want to do, more I want to do, more that needs to be done, and a small church, made up of mainly homeless people continues on, month to month, not knowing how we are going to do it but seeing God work. This morning, I am sad, but I am also blessed because I know we have been where God would have us and there is no better place than being where God would have us.

Please pray for our future, our needs, and those we are called to serve.

If you haven't please visit our web site where you can also contribute to the ministry at www.mosaicwichita.com you can also email me at mikefurches@yahoo.com
Blessings,

Pastor Mike

Lastly, we now have a way folks can contribute to Mosaic online. If interested in sharing with Mosaic online you can visit the following link and do so. Just designate what your gift is for when you donate, you can designate gifts for ‘general funds,’ ‘capitol campaign,’ or ‘homeless program.’

If the button doesn’t appear, you can give at the following link - https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=G6KQJMMUS72CA

All contributions to Mosaic are tax-deductible. If mailing contributions to Mosaic, you can send them to the following address:

Mosaic Wichita
216 S. Market St.
Wichita, KS 67202

Blessings to you and have a great week.

Mike

Mosaic Church Web Site

The Keystone Kid

Facebook

The Virtual Pew

Movie Reviews

Twitter

Mosaic Wichita Facebook Page

Personal Web Site

We Need You, Urgent!

There is a lot happening at Mosaic and while there are a lot of good, even great things, there are also concerns. As many know we have a property that we can purchase, on our block, that is valued at approximately $400,000. We can purchase this property, move in ready from $45,000 - $65,000 total. It would allow us as a mission oriented church to raise some money to keep us going, but it would also allow us to move forward to offer more needed ministries, including possibly a year round shelter for women and families with children. Not hardly a day goes by that I have to turn down shelter to families with children as there are currently very little available without a long waiting list. Please, we need the help. I have come to the conclusion that I am not the best person at raising funds, I wish I were, but I am a pastor, not a business person.

Mosaic also has a Christmas Angel Tree on site with names and gift ideas for homeless individuals. Would you consider adopting a homeless person or persons? The gift ideas are unique and requested by the homeless persons themselves. There is everything from bus tickets to towels, many would be greatly surprised at the simplicity of the requests.

Now can you help in one of these ways? I have in the past resorted to begging. As I hear that today there are rumblings of another group purchasing the building we are interested in, which I believe was a God send, I know there are those who could help us either raise the money for this property, or could contribute significant funds to help purchase it, and/or help us in raising the funds.

Mosaic also has its ongoing needs. We need a few families, preferably with youth and children to commit to our church to help us grow. We also need month to month finances as there are literally times that we don't know how we are going to make it. I challenge to come on virtually any Sunday, see the work, and see those who make up the church, most of which are homeless. I haven't received pay from the church in pastor salary in some months, and a total of $3,300 since January of last year. I don't say that so you can give, but to tell you, I believe in the ministry of Mosaic and will gladly take nothing as I know God provides if others are being blessed like they have been. There are hundreds we touch each week, but the reality is this, there is a possibility that in the future we can't make it and won't be able to continue on with the ministry we do. I know people often say these types of things, but that is the truth for this ministry. While some ministries may have their leaders living in big homes, driving nice cars and so forth, that simply isn't the case, we really do depend on the love and generosity of others. Please, consider helping this little church making such a big difference for The Kingdom of God.

If you haven't please visit our web site where you can also contribute to the ministry at www.mosaicwichita.com you can also email me at mikefurches@yahoo.com
Blessings,

Pastor Mike

Lastly, we now have a way folks can contribute to Mosaic online. If interested in sharing with Mosaic online you can visit the following link and do so. Just designate what your gift is for when you donate, you can designate gifts for ‘general funds,’ ‘capitol campaign,’ or ‘homeless program.’

If the button doesn’t appear, you can give at the following link - https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=G6KQJMMUS72CA

All contributions to Mosaic are tax-deductible. If mailing contributions to Mosaic, you can send them to the following address:

Mosaic Wichita
216 S. Market St.
Wichita, KS 67202

Blessings to you and have a great week.

Mike

Mosaic Church Web Site

The Keystone Kid

Facebook

The Virtual Pew

Movie Reviews

Twitter

Mosaic Wichita Facebook Page

Personal Web Site