Ministry Web Site of Jim and Phyllis Null

Newsletter June 2012

// July 1st, 2012 // eNewsletters

Ministry News

We got the opportunity on a Friday to transport the walls for a house via our Help Build Hope (HBH) program.  This summer one of the projects that HBH is working with is a program at Kentucky Christian University named “Summer in the Son”.  Over several weeks, and with several hundred teenagers, our HBH crew will construct the walls for several homes.   We picked up one of these homes on a Friday in Grayson, Kentucky,  to transport it to Henryville, IN.  You might recall that Henryville is one of the towns in Indiana that was devastated by a spring tornado.

We arrived in Henryville late on Friday and made our way to Mt. Moriah Church.  Today, there isn’t a church building any longer.  This country church was hit by the tornado.  About 20 people found sanctuary in the basement of the church building hiding from the tornado.  The tornado collapsed the building completely.  One of those in the basement crawled out of a basement window, and found help, to get the others out.  Mt. Moriah members meet in a tent in a field across from where their former church building stood.  The tent is open air – with tables, chairs and fans.  It also houses a kitchen where folks, who need food, and who are helping in the cleanup, can find food, water and a place to rest, throughout the day.  All that remains of the church building are the basement walls, a baptistry, a church bell and their parking lot sign.

Here, at the tent, we met with folks from International Disaster Emergency Service (IDES – a Bible focused disaster relief organization).  The folks who would be receiving the house walls from us.  A call out for help to come unload the walls produced a teacher and about 15 students, whom, according to one of the students, are all in the area helping with cleanup – representing Ohio State!

We took the 26′ foot Penske truck a short distance up a hilly road to a lot where once stood two mobile home trailers – no longer there because of the tornado.  The grass on the lot was about four feet high.  In order to off load the walls as close to the poured footers for the house we drove it into the lot as deep as we could, ensuring we could turn it around once done.  Along with the students, IDES works and other volunteers we unloaded the walls for this 3 bedroom home in less than 40 minutes and stacked them.  IDES, along with other volunteers, will next erect the walls and complete the house.

Now “for the rest of the story” – we understand that the couple receiving the house were some of those who sought safety in the basement of Mt. Moriah church. It was the wife who was the one who crawled out of the basement to go get help after the tornado collapsed the church building onto the basement.  Mt. Moriah, IDES and CrossRoads Missions are very excited to be involved in helping this family as it opens a great opportunity to tangible display the love of Christ to non-believers, and believers alike who are in great need.

Henryville Videos
Truck we’ll use to haul the home over to Henryville. Parking it in our yard night before we were to head out.	Henryville Video #1	Henryville Video #2

Downtown Missions

Our church home here in Louisville partners once-monthly with Fellowship of Christ – a waterfront ministry in downtown Louisville.  Every Sunday, Fellowship of Christ meets on the banks of the Ohio River in downtown Louisville on the wharf.  They provided, with the help of many churches and volunteers, a warm breakfast meal to the homeless. Additionally there are opportunities for the homeless to get a hair cut, pickup toiletry items, find a pair of shoes, or some clothing.  During this time praise music backs up the activity, and the morning is capped off with a sermon and Gospel presentation. Ninth and O Baptist Church commits to the first week of every month in providing the breakfast meal, and volunteers to help make it happen.  This most recent visit downtown there were well over 100 homeless and street folks on hand, mostly men, some women and some children.

Phyllis and I met Eric.  Eric also goes by the nickname “Driftwood”.  Matter of fact, he introduced himself to us as “My name is Eric aka Driftwood”.  In talking with Eric we learned that he collects and stacks driftwood from the Ohio River in various wooded areas in the downtown Louisville river area.  He then takes selected pieces of driftwood and makes a place setting for a table, or a wall decoration – which he sells for some money.  Eric shared he has a prison record – a felony – for theft.  He shares that he was given a check in his name, from the homeowner, by the company he worked for, for some home repair work.  He then cashed the check, gave the company the money, from which they paid him.  Later, he was arrested being told that the check was reported stolen.  And, since he cashed it, he did some time for the theft.  As a result, due to his record, no one will hire him because he’s branded a thief.  So he’s on the streets, and from time to time sells a piece of his driftwood art.

He also shared that he had asked God for a bike so he could get around.   But, when he asked, he didn’t specifically ask for what he needed in a bike.   As a bike rider I was interested more so, so asked him if he could let us see his bike.  We walked over to a concrete buildings wall where his bike was parked. A very pretty pink and purple 20″ little girls bike with white tires.  He said he gets teased a lot about the bike, but just keeps riding it because that’s what God has provided, and commented how he’s sure God has a great sense of humor.

The homeless pretty much have two modes of transportation – walking or bike riding.  Most walk!  So this whole conversation gave me an idea.. what if we could collect old, homeless, useable adult bikes and simply make them available for those who need them as part of our Downtown Missions effort for the homeless.  Our first project is going to be for Eric — to see if we can find him a “man’s bike” to ride!  If you have an old adult bike hanging around your garage or basement and it needs a new home please let me know.  We can accept your donation of this bike through CrossRoads Missions – and from there we’ll direct it to those who need it!  What another great opportunity to open doors for those who are seeking.

Personal News

On June 16th, the first-ever, that we know of, fundraising bike ride for the pro-life organization A Woman’s Choice / Necole’s Place was held here in Louisville, Kentucky.  Pictured to the right is Leisa Krish Ray, Don Gilmour and Jim.

Two riders showed up for the ride.  Just before 9 am, Leisa Krish Ray, Development Director for AWC/Necole’s prayed for the ride and off we went.

Within the first 1/4 mile Jim’s rear tire flatted.  So back to the starting line for a quick change, and then off again!

It was a stormy and humid day!  But the riders were blessed without having any rain during the entire ride.  Don Gilmour, founder of Necole’s Place and a board member, rode the first 20 miles with Jim.

Phyllis was in the support vehicle (SAG car) being out on the route to provide water and any other needs that may crop up.  She also scanned the route for construction, road repairs or other issues and kept Jim posted.

After 3 hours and 56 minutes Jim returned back to Necole’s Place having successfully completed the entire route of the ride.  STATS: 52.76 miles in 3′ 56″, 105+ ounces of water, 1 flat tire, hot, humid, no run ins with cars or pedestrians!  The most important STAT was that $1230.50 was raised for AWC/Necole’s because of the generous sponsorship donations of many.  In 2011, AWC/Necoles ministered to more than 3200 women; as a result 636 babies were saved from abortion!  Your sponsorship donation will go towards the new stats we’re now recording for 2012 where lives will be saved — and lives will be impacted.  THANK YOU for your sponsorship and for your prayers!

Phyllis

Phyllis has been living with right shoulder pain for several years.  The past six months or so that pain has been increasing.  Some months ago she visited with a Dr. who took several xrays, gave her some shots into the pain areas, and prescribed some therapy with the words “if this doesn’t improve the situation we should consider surgery as our next option”.  We are now at that point.  Many nights she does not sleep due to the pain from her right shoulder in particular.  On Tuesday, July 3 she’ll be undergoing outpatient surgery.  The goal is to remove a small portion of bone that appears to be rubbing into her shoulders muscle and tissue. At the same time they’ll probe to make sure the rotater cuff is not damaged or torn, but if is, will also repair it as well.  If the bone remove is the only procedure they anticipate that she’ll be back to normal in about 4 weeks.  If it’s more extensive, then perhaps as long as 4 months.  Your prayers are appreciated, especially for her recovery time and God’s provision for all the details with her surgery.

In closing … we are so very humbled by the ministry opportunities we have had of late.  Grateful for the wonderfulness of the Lord whom we serve and the partnership we have with you in doing so.

Serving With You Because of Him,

Jim and Phyllis Null

 

 

Jim and Phyllis are faith-based independent missionaries commissioned by Faith Bible Church, Cincinnati, Oh, serving with CrossRoads Missions in Louisville, Kentucky. Donations to their ministry may be made through CrossRoads Missions, 3231 Ruckriegel Parkway, Louisville, KY, 40299. Please include a note with your donation indicating your desire to direct it to Jim and Phyllis Null’s Ministry Area.