Mosaic Update, Approaching Easter

As I write this, this morning, I can’t help but wonder, are there those who are really so spiritual that they don’t need to observe certain holidays? What I mean is in reference to those who say things like ‘we should celebrate Christmas, or Easter’ every day!’ While there is a measure of truth in those statements, I can’t help but know my own life, I need at times those reminders and as we approach Easter this year, there are reminders all around me as to the concepts of death, and rebirth, reminders as to the continuing and working power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those he loves and cares for. For me, I need the reminders and find them worthwhile. To spend time focusing this year on the sacrifice but ultimately the rebirth and newness of life exemplified in the resurrection of Jesus is a reminder that those things can be, and are, available for not just me, but those who follow after the Son of God.

There are presently two events in my life that remind me of this which I can look at as examples of how God continues to resurrect the dead. One is a personal family issue our family has been dealing with for some time. I am reluctant to say that resurrection has occurred but I continue to have hope it is occurring in the life of a loved one. I continue to pray, this Sunday as I teach on Luke 15, including the story of the Prodigal Son, that hope is exemplified even more than usual.

Another situation is the closing of our women’s shelter. This Sunday morning will be the last morning of operation for our shelter. I am concerned for the women who will no longer have any place to go. I am concerned over a many people who say they follow Jesus yet, either seem to not care, or don’t take into consideration these types of things. The ladies at Mosaic (as I call them) are handling the situation better than I, but they still have skepticism and many have come out and told me how much they appreciated what we have done. For them, it is a new start, one that includes the death of a program and the hope of a better tomorrow.

This Sunday in recognition of the little church that could (Mosaic) and those who have been a part of the program we are going to be cooking out for the ladies, a guest of their discretion, or their families, and those attending church on Sunday. This is a way I believe I can give a little back to those who have participated in the shelter. The cook-out will be for those attending church, and the ladies of the shelter plus one guest or their families.

As the shelter starts to end, I will take some time to take off, only to recoup and move to starting up our day program again on April 10. This program will operate 3 days a week, plus we will move to having meals again on the 1st and last Saturday of each month starting after April 10. We will have a small group from Eastside Church of God here this Saturday at 11:30 to assist with feeding the homeless. We will start the regular rotation after April 10. In this new venture we need volunteers to assist through the week and on weekends. We have already heard this is something many homeless are looking forward to.

I am also excited about the redirection of my own efforts in the next weeks, including instituting some programs to help with the Spiritual Growth of those committed to Mosaic, and ministry to those in the community including the institution of a Celebrate Recovery Group to meet during the day in the downtown area.

A lot is happening, a lot that symbolizes death and rebirth, all of this as we move closer to Easter Week. Remember, God is good All The Time, and All The Time, God is good.

For those receiving this via internet, you can email me at mikefurches@yahoo.com to be placed on the Mosaic Mailing List. You can also visit www.mosaicwichita.com and visit our web site where you can contribute your donations to Mosaic Church. We are a 501-C 3 organization and all of your contributions are tax-deductible.

Thanks for reading, and God Bless

Blessings to you and may God bless you in your faithfulness to His Call.

Pastor Mike

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

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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Mosaic Weekly Update The End of a Service

It has been said before, ‘all good things must come to an end.’ I have to ask though, do they really?

As many know Mosaic has offered and provided a shelter for women since November 1, 7 days a week, each evening from 6 PM – 7 AM. That has included meals each evening and morning for the ladies staying at our shelter, and with 4 staff persons, 3 for the duration of the program, and numerous staff and with a large number of women, some 10-13 a night on average, we have seen a lot of things take place, from some ladies who have gotten their lives back together complete with jobs and housing, to the tragedies such as loosing a baby shared with others. While it has certainly been an enjoyable ride, it has also had its hardships. I recall the worst part of having to turn down services to women with small children each day during the weeks leading up to Christmas, and the reality that after the morning of April 1, many women will once again, in our city, be back on the streets on a nightly basis. There have been personal benefits though, it has been a joy to have a small income for myself from working at the shelter, plus knowing that others also obtained an income. On the whole, I have learned to appreciate the plight of many of the homeless women in Wichita, I also realize the need for continued services. How we as a church, as small as we are can do that is beyond my reasoning and understanding at the moment.

The truth is, I will challenge most any other church, not from the perspective of bragging but to legitimately challenge the church to be the Body of Christ to the poor as Scripture mandates, to do as much with what they have, as Mosaic has done in the past months since our location to the downtown area. Don’t just be a water or tea church though, that is a church whose extent of interaction is to offer a homeless person a cup of water or tea, but instead, offer a ministry that gets to know people that helps them beyond the moment of their condition. Offer a service that goes towards building a sense of self-respect while at the same time promoting the reality of consequence for actions. Be a church that looks at, shares in life with, those who Jesus has called us to be with and love. When churches do their part, then small churches like Mosaic will not have to bare the burden of ministry on their backs alone. Let me say with caution as I am concerned how many will respond to this, but I am honored that my family will once again with the completion of this ministry, go on serving the homeless at a great cost, including the likelihood that we will have a drastic reduction in finance as we won’t have a guaranteed income outside of what little we get from The Virtual Pew, speaking opportunities, and outside donations. But again, we do this gladly, knowing that ‘what does it profit one to gain the whole world and lose their souls.’ We also know ‘man cannot live on bread alone, nor can we serve two masters.’ We serve with joy, despite the difficulty, because we know that the kingdom of God is advanced.

Mosaic will continue, I am looking forward to decent sleep hours over the next months, I am looking forward to seeing the day program hopefully come back to life, (we still need volunteers for this) and I am looking forward to doing what I can to serve those interested in Mosaic outside of the homeless population. There are still dreams, still visions to do not less, but to do more. To explore ways to offer services that will meet the needs of our people. Over the next months I joy at trying to discover ways, along with the congregation as to how we can serve those who actively become a part of our church, including our homeless members. I also joy in the start up and exploration of a Celebrate Recovery Group and weekly day and evening gatherings to discuss scripture and life. There is a future, and God is still Jehovah Jireh so I am excited.

This week we will have tonight, (Friday) a gathering of youth and adults to go to Lake Eldorado to participate in a bonfire together. Robert Beard a new participant at the church helping with the youth will be leading this and future activities. We are also going to be hosting from the Wichita Police Department Officer Nathan on Sunday morning as he discusses the new proposal before the city of Wichita having to deal with serving the homeless in our city, The HOT program. As a church we will evaluate the program in consideration of writing a letter of support from the church to the city in support of this new proposed program.

There is more in the future for Mosaic. Despite what some have thought, we have grown in many ways, God continues to provide enough funds to get by, but we still need you and want you to stay involved, supporting the work of the church, as well as the ministry that God has not just called Mosaic to, but I believe the church as a whole.

We also realize that many receiving our newsletter or seeing this on the web are part of other churches. We want to pray for your church or you as an individual as you have need, we also appreciate the prayers and support that you can offer our way. You can do this in a variety of ways, either donating on line at our web site at www.mocaicwichita.com or at our Mailing Address: P.O. Box 47261, Wichita, KS 67201, however you contribute, it is greatly appreciated.

We appreciate all you have done, and if you want to be on the weekly email list for Mosaic where you will receive regular updates, and/or the weekly bulletin, don’t hesitate letting us know by emailing me at mikefurches@yahoo.com or letting us know by visiting our web site.

Now as a last note, I know many are going to the movies this weekend to see The Hunger Games. While it may be a worthwhile film to see, I will also encourage you to consider the movie October Baby, see my recent review of the film here - http://mikefurchesreviews.blogspot.com/2012/03/october-baby.html

Blessings to you and may God bless you in your faithfulness to His Call.

Pastor Mike

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

Mosaic Weekly Update

Over the last weeks things have been a little hectic at Mosaic due to a number of events. I guess the hectic nature comes with the ministry we often do, just this afternoon I heard of one of the ladies we serve who just lost her baby which died this morning. She didn’t have custody of the baby but this doesn’t negate the hurt. We also have one of our volunteers whom I have had the honor of mentoring that lost his mother last weekend. Unfortunately he had been saving to buy him a truck as he has been working, but he had to use $2,200 of his earnings to pay for his mother’s funeral. There have been other things happening, but the ministry God has called us to isn’t just a call, it is a commitment.

This weekend on Saturday we are planning on feeding as we have the Wichita Police Department come to our facility to discuss and present the new planning and efforts that are being proposed regarding policies and treatment of Wichita’s homeless. It is an honor to host this meeting and everyone is invited. The meeting starts at noon, we will open the doors at 11:30, serve food shortly after the presentation starting at approximately 12:45. Eastside Church of God is coming to help serve and prepare the food so we expect to have a full house.

This Sunday we continue the series on the Gospel of Luke. This week we look at the call of Jesus on our lives. This is a concept many don’t think about as much, but as we look at the message this weekend, we will certainly see the importance of all of us considering the call of God on our lives.

As usual the bulletin for the week is attached. There are a lot of things happening in the next month as we wind down the service of the evening shelter program. Pray for the ladies who will have no place to go, as well as the future plans of Mosaic in this ministry. If we had 10 churches designate $1,000 per month, we would have enough income to continue shelter services plus full-funding for the day program 365 days. There are differences in the services provided those we are honored to serve at Mosaic, all one has to do is come, ask for themselves, at any time, and they will quickly see a ministry that cares, and treats people like the prized possessions of God they are is needed.

Thanks again, for your willingness to read through, and pray for the ministry of Mosaic. We appreciate it and also offer our prayers for your group, or congregation. Just let us know, we promise, we have faithful men and women who will certainly pray for you and your church.

Blessings,

Pastor Mike

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