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Reaching Out with Caring Hands

When Christians show up to serve in the name of Jesus Christ, He is honored and people are attracted to Him. Let me tell you about a nice way this is happening in Baton Rouge:


Last year, Devera Goss began to volunteer at Lee High School in Baton Rouge, a place in much need of some helpful volunteers! She did things like plant flowers and take snacks to the teachers’ lounge, and she enlisted a few other folks to do the same.


The buildings at Lee are pretty old to start with, and this summer, someone put some mean graffiti on some of them. The principal let Devera know that he needed help getting the buildings power washed. She called me, and we put our heads together thinking of people who might want to volunteer.



The Lord provided! I called Wayne Gowdy, because he has a pressure washing business. The Lord had been putting it on his heart to volunteer his services, and he was happy to get involved. So on August 2nd, Wayne led the charge and worked with Devera and her husband Jerry, who are pictured above with Wayne. Jenny Seals, Mike Ruppert, and Sheldon Bivin pitched in, and they cleaned Lee’s buildings.


The principal was so thankful for their work, which helped the appearance of the school and will help the staff, faculty, and students have a more positive attitude about being there.


He and some of the other staff and faculty know that the folks who worked so hard on that Saturday are Christians and that they are involved at The Chapel. One teacher told Devera that she had not found a church home since she moved to Baton Rouge, and said she would like to go to The Chapel one Sunday to see what it was like.


What a great way for the goodness of the Lord to flow through His people to touch others!


Other volunteer opportunities at Lee, such as tutoring American and international students, are available. If you want to volunteer at Lee, or if you want to find out about other volunteer opportunities in Baton Rouge or New Orleans, please let me know by contacting me through Connections.


Thanks!

Clayton

The Body of Christ Working Together!

Last week I sent a Connections Update email requesting donations of lawn equipment for a new outreach ministry by Franklin Ave Baptist in New Orleans.



Thirteen pieces of equipment were donated (pictured above). Monday and Tuesday Sheldon Bivin, a retired friend who loves to serve, worked with me to get everything operational.



Yesterday, I used one of The Chapel’s vehicles and a trailer to deliver the equipment to Franklin Ave Baptist. The second picture is of Gary Mack, the pastor who leads outreach efforts, and me standing beside the trailer they just bought for this outreach ministry. The funds for the trailer came from Trinity Bible Church in Lafayette.


Isn’t it great to see the Body of Christ working together to touch people with the love of Christ!


Isn’t it great to think that the Lord is moving His body in many ways like this every day because of His love!


One other thing. Please pray for the Returning Hearts Celebration outreach this Saturday at Hunt Correctional Center in St. Gabriel. About 125 children are signed up to join their fathers for a day of fun and ministry!



Thanks for praying!

Clayton Hays

Returning Hearts Celebration

Have you ever wished God would use you in the life of another person?

By volunteering at a Returning Hearts Celebration you can become a vessel of God’s tender mercy in the life of a child (or several children) and a father. These Saturday events are like carnivals on prison grounds and they provide an opportunity for healing in the lives of prison inmates and their children. Read on…

Convoy of Hope: an outreach to provide 35,000 lbs of groceries and share God’s love to 3,000 people near the French Quarter.

Recently we had the opportunity to help with an outreach project in New Orleans. The outreach was called Convoy of Hope and it took place on Saturday November 18th near the French Quarter. It was an outreach to needy families and their children. On that day a warm meal and 35,000 lbs of groceries were given away to about 3,000 people. Free services such as health screenings were also provided. Read on…

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