Under His Wings

The following is a note from an Under His Wings group member. We made and gave a small gift to everyone for the first Christmas without a child. The gift was a clear glass ornament with snow and a small white feather inside. On the outside was a tag with the verse 'He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge.'

"Thank you so much for the ornaments and prayer shawl. I really had to smile when I saw the feather in the ornament. I enjoy reading Christian fiction, and in the book I just finished, four different times when there was a glimmer of hope and happiness a small white feather appeared. I just finished the book Friday and received the ornament Sunday. I thought you would get a smile out of that as well. I looked twice when I saw the feather and knew that God would take care of me and sees me when I'm hurting so."

Praise God for using this small gift to help this grieving family.

Susan Ringewold

Blessing of Thanksgiving Baskets

Last Tuesday morning more than 30 kids and adults spent two hours unpacking and sorting the green bags we used to collect food and diapers -- over 700 bags total! The kids had an absolute ball and it was great to see. Most encouraging for me was one specific family who has been unemployed for some time and recently began to receive food stamp support. They were here showing their two young children what it means to serve, and couldn’t wait to tell me their ideas of how to teach families in similar situations how to “maximize” the food stamp support. They could be feeling sorry for themselves in their new life stage, but instead are looking at how they can help empower others in the same situation.

That night 48 individuals, families, and small groups gathered in the gym to pack Thanksgiving Baskets for close to 60 families in our community. In situations like that the very first thing I want to say is “thank you, thank you, thank you." As much as that is appropriate, I realized that’s not why they were there. Picture almost 50 groups scattered around Holland interacting with 60 families all at the same time. Pray for the conversations that may have occurred on the front steps or even in living rooms. Pray that the Lord will use those words to extend our care for them.

Chris Hofland

Community Thanksgiving Feast

Following the second service on Sunday the people of CWC went from growing in their faith through worship to living out their faith through service to nearly 150 guests at our Thanksgiving feast. Judy Boyles and her kitchen crew prepared an incredible turkey meal with Judy’s famous homemade rolls and an overflow of desserts. Each family was able to leave with a container of leftovers. This has become a wonderful tradition. Perrigo Pharmaceuticals donated day/night cough syrup, allergy medications, ibuprofen, anti-itch cream, toothbrushes, and toothpaste for each family. A donated 19-inch flat screen TV also went to a single mother of 5!

About 110 CWC volunteers served by greeting, facilitating conversations as a table hosts, washing dishes, cutting desserts, and more. We have such wonderful people in our church family! Everyone served with smiles and offered firm handshakes and eye contact, making our guests feel welcome.

Sunday was a day we just said “hey neighbor, let’s share a meal together.” Yes, we shared opportunities to connect at CWC, but mostly it was an opportunity sit shoulder to shoulder and say “hi.”

It was a great day, a day the Lord had made.

Chris Hofland

Faith Promise Giving

My Faith Promise for 2010 is 500 dollars. Let me share how cool God was in supplying the Faith Promise I made last year. In the fall of 2008, when the Faith Promise opportunity was presented, a dollar amount settled in my heart. I wanted to make sure it was God planting that amount and not an emotional response. So I had a conversation with God. I said, "Okay, God. You know I really want to do this if it is You. But I've got to know it's You and not just something in my head. So, I'm going to take a step of faith and pledge the 500 dollars, but for me to know, absolutely know, it came from You, I want the money to ‘come out of the blue.’" So, I made my 500 dollar Faith Promise. Just before the end of 2008, I received an e-mail from my bank's branch manager. He asked if I was interested in reducing my mortgage interest rate by 1.375 percent. I contacted the mortgage lender he recommended and was the very last person to be "locked in" to the low mortgage rate. The new, lower mortgage payment began in March. The difference between the old mortgage payment and the new mortgage payment was just the right amount to pay my Faith Promise by October -- when I would have another opportunity to trust God with a Faith Promise for 2010. Isn't that so cool! The money came “out of the blue." So, this year, when the Faith Promise amount was planted in my heart, I didn't have to wonder who put it there. So many times, I think God smiles at me and says, "I love ya, Bette." Just thought I'd share that.

Bette S.

H4SA

This week we finished the 10-week Hope for the Single Again workshop. The Lord blessed us with one salvation decision, three recommitments to Christ, seven people who reported they had repented of sins that led to their marriage failures, and ten people who reported they had forgiven someone they needed to forgive.

Here are some interesting quotes from the attendees:

"I learned to turn things over to God."
"I am now ready to move on with my life."
"I’ve experienced spiritual and emotional growth."
"I have overcome bitterness and anger."
"I have gone from anger to peace."
"I came in shock, now I am sad but able to move on."
"I appreciated the leaders openness and humanity."
"The testimonies were powerful."
"I want to repeat the class."

We thank all of you for praying for this ministry!

Larry Johnson