Not local? Listen online @ http://wtar.com

We are trying to work out a way to record it… check back in a few days and we may have the show up on the website.

I schedule the donation pickups for VH. I’m off on Mondays (Melissa schedules them then), so when I came in this morning I had a huge stack of messages on my desk.

I counted 17 messages… a sign that busy season has started. During the cooler months we get maybe ten to fifteen calls, and end up with about ten stops a day at the most.

Practically as soon as I sat down I was brought 5 more messages. (This was at 8:45).

A few minutes later, the phone rang. A few minutes after that I was brought 3 more messages.

Steadily, every ten or fifteen minutes, I get at least one more message - right now, even after calling back 10+ people, I still have just as many (if not more!) messages than I started out with!

It’s a good thing. We need donations! It’s exciting to see the pace start picking up.

You know what else is affected by busy season? We get a lot more NICE stuff at the thrift store! *hint hint*

So, two things to remember:

• We need donations!! Give me a call if you’ve got some stuff. I recommend calling 2 or more days before you want your pickup, though - we fill up FAST.
• We need you to shop our store!! So come by… you know you want to! We’ve got so much cool stuff. What’s better than getting awesome stuff at awesome prices supporting an awesome ministry?

See (or hear from!) you soon!

-Pastor Mike will be on the local news (WVEC, channel 13) at noon tomorrow, November 12th.

-Pastor Mike will also be on the local radio (WPCE, 1400 AM) from 10:45-11am on November 13th.

-We were featured in the Hampton Roads Church Guide this month. You can read the article on page 7, here: http://www.thechurchguide.com/issues/Nov2008.pdf  

-We will, again, be featured in this Sunday’s edition of the Clipper (in the Virginian Pilot). They did a story about us a few years ago, also.

-Also, we will be featured in Discover Chesapeake at the end of the month.

-We have a PSA out on several local radio stations. You can listen to it on our website.

-The Fundraising & Awareness Banquet is coming up quick - only a week away. God is doing some amazing things - as you read on Melissa’s post, we already have 21.5 tables sponsored (paid for) and 14 table hosts (meaning 14 tables filled with people!). We also have 32 items for the silent auction. We are really looking forward to seeing what God’s going to do for us next Tuesday evening. Please be praying that we will get caught up financially through the donations brought in by the banquet.

Victory Home has always been about change… the change from the old life to the new, and the change that comes as God grows the ministry. Over the last month, I have had the privilege, along with the rest of Victory Home’s staff, of watching God seamlessly pull everything together for our upcoming banquet on November 18th.

There are many other thrilling things God is doing…and the list is longer than the time I have to record it all. Relative to fundraising, also, is the answered prayer for more car washes at a set venue. The Auto Zone around the corner from us lets us hold car washes regularly in their parking lot, and today I heard Emmitt (a VH client, and car wash king!) talking about two gas stations that set dates for us to use their property, too. It’s awesome!

I am grateful that, though we are tested, the family of Victory Home is “foolish” enough to trust God’s wisdom and His supernatural equipment! 

As we watch them come, we see many faces,
     the face of anxiety, 
          the face of fear,
               the face of hopelessness, 
                    the face of weariness,
                         the face of relief.

As we watch them go, we also see many faces - sometimes the face of anger, sometimes eagerness to return to the pigpen, and sometimes, the face shows 
     humility
          and gratefulness
               and determination
to continue in the the things they have learned. Those faces can be seen all over the community.

One can be seen at Chick-fil-A, where a woman has been working since she completed Victory Home over two years ago (we had a woman’s program at the time), is active in her church, and has not returned to her destructive lifestyle.

There’s one attending school at a local Bible college, who is reunited with his wife and children, and drops in periodically to touch base with his Victory Home family.

There’s one in Franklin, working hard as an auto mechanic and living with his family again.

There’s the HIV patient who calls periodically to let us know that he’s doing well.

There’s the man who now has a good job at the shipyard, and called just last week to say hello.

God can take a heart full of anxiety, fear, and hopelessness, and change it into a heart of faith, integrity and promise. All it takes is a heart ready to forsake all and follow Jesus,

who is the face of LOVE.

And we spend hardly anything on food!

How is that possible? It’s easy. Two steps.

1) We pray.
We go to the Lord with our needs; this is His ministry and we ask for His provision. After all, He owns the cattle on a thousand hills!

2) God lays it on hearts of those in the community to give. 
And they do! Individuals buy spices and staple goods, grocery stores offer leftovers, restaurants save their extras, and other ministries share their blessings.

Is God speaking to you about giving?

Not sure what we need?

Give us a call at 487-2633. Let God use you today!

Join us this weekend - you never know what kind of treasures you may find!

The flapjacks were delicious and we had lots of customers to serve. Our volunteers washed dishes, served the food, and greeted folks as they arrived.

Victory Home netted over $700 and we’re looking forward to having more of these breakfasts.  I’ll be sure to post the details when we schedule them.