You’ve likely prayed for the neighborhoods in Joplin, Missouri from afar, along with the rest of the country. But Wanda Shellenbarger, Women’s Ministry Consultant for the Missouri Baptist Convention, lives only 16 miles from Joplin; she personally lost two dear friends in the May 22 tornado that pummeled her community. So many of the women are having great difficulty dealing with the loss of everything: home, cars, all their belongings. Many no longer have jobs because businesses were destroyed by the tornado.  Many lost family and children in the storm. 157 people have died as a result of the tornado.

A reminder of easier days in Joplin, Missouri. Photo courtesy of Gerry True, www.leadingwideopen.com.

Wanda has a heart to minister to the women and girls affected by this tragedy–and she’s been perfectly positioned to play a part in the reconstruction of their hearts as well as their homes.

“God has opened the door to witness and minister to so many people as a result of the storms.” Wanda writes, “Isn’t it just like our precious Lord to take something so devastating and use it for His glory?”

FEMA is bringing in over 500 trailers for people who lost their homes in the tornado. 350 of these temporary homes are going to be placed on acreage just outside Wanda’s neighborhood. “The Lord began working on my heart and began to speak to me about the opportunity of having so many women and girls that are going to be located so close in a relatively small area. What an AMAZING opportunity He’s dropping into our laps for ministry.”

Two women who’ve attended Wanda’s Bible study for the past five years were left homeless by the tornado. They are on FEMA’s list to be the first ones in the trailer park. “Isn’t God something, to place these ladies in that new area so we can use their living rooms to do Bible study!” said Wanda. “I loved the look of the Neighborhood Cafe–so cute and inviting for women, AND, best of all, I loved the Bible study topics that I read about.  I think it could be a wonderful opportunity to bring many women and girls to the Lord.  I’m praying and working with other women in our church and we’re so excited to get this started we can hardly wait!”

There is a potential for 1,000 to 1,200 women and girls to be housed in the trailers, which will start arriving at the end of July. Please, please pray for the women and girls of Joplin, and please lift up Wanda and her team as they seek the Lord’s leadership in reaching out through neighborhood Bible studies.

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting Lisa Smartt at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio. If you approach neighborhood ministry with a shivery combination of “Joy and Trembling,” then you will love Lisa as much as I do! She shares how we can love our neighbors in spite of our messy houses, sin and inadequacy.

Women’s Ministry Luncheon – Lisa Smartt from Oak Hills Church on Vimeo.

Please visit www.lisasmartt.com to learn more about this sassy Southern girlfriend!

Yesterday, I held an Open House for my Neighborhood Cafe in Greenville, Texas. It was wonderful!  Six neighborhood ladies came and one sweet mama (mine!).  They stayed nearly two hours! We had a great time sipping our coffee and getting to know one another.  It was awesome!

They all seemed receptive to a fall Bible study, especially the study of Esther… so glad the Lord led me to that one! He does know what He’s doing!

Here’s a little devotional I shared before they left:

A Carrot, an Egg & a Cup of Coffee

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her.  She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up.  She was tired of fighting and struggling.

It seemed as if one problem was solved when a new one would arise.

Her mother took her to the kitchen.  She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire.  Soon the pots came to a boil.  In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans.  She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

In about 20 minutes, she turned off the burners.  She fished out the carrots and placed them in a bowl.  She pulled out the eggs and placed them in a bowl.  Then she ladled the coffee into a cup.  Turning to her daughter, she said, “Tell me what you see.”  The daughter replied, “Carrots,  eggs, and coffee.”

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots.  She did and noted that they were soft.  The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it.  After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee.  The daughter smiled, as she smelled the rich aroma and tasted the flavor of the coffee.  She asked, “What does it mean, Mother?”

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity:  boiling water.  Each reacted differently.  The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting.  However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile.  Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its insides became hardened.  The ground coffee beans were unique, however.  After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

“Which are you?” she asked her daughter.  “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond?  Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?”

Think of this:  Which am I?  Am I the carrot who seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the hear?  Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship, or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff?  Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I the coffee bean?  The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain.  When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor.  if you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.  When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level?

Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

At this point, I talked about what makes you a coffee bean… only the presence of the Holy Spirit!  We read Galatians 5:22-24 and Colossians 3:12-17 and talked very briefly about walking in the Spirit (we could have had a whole Bible study here!).  The whole thing took maybe five minutes!

I’ma thinkin’ I’ma likin’ this neighborhood “stuff,” Girlfriend!

I’m a Coffee-Bean-Wanna-Be!

Linda

Click here to get to know your neighbors and start a Neighborhood Cafe like Linda!