March 13, 2024

Since God is infinitely good, even in the face of our rebellion and idolatry, he has made a way for sin to be forgiven and finally defeated.

Paul Tripp

Dear Bill,

It's hard to believe. Six days until spring. It seems like just a few weeks ago the weather was brutally cold. So many of you served straight through the winter. Weekly Neighborhood Breakfasts, collecting coats, hats, gloves, blankets, sleeping bags and winter clothing and footwear for people on the street. Others of you served on Thanksgiving Eve, at Thanksgiving, Angel Tree Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christmas morning, Code Blue and Valentine's Day. Still others provided snack bags for our neighbors on the street and others made home-cooked meals for the men residing in our transitional homes for Christian ex-offenders. As we think about all that the Lord has done this past winter, we are reminded of how many of you served and serve sacrificially. It is awesome to have a front row seat to see the body of Christ action. It is beautiful seeing people serving others because of their love for the Lord. None of the things that we have listed above, and much more, could ever occur without so many of you serve alongside us. Thank you so much, we really appreciate it.

And, of course, there are a lot of things coming up as well. We used to say that there was something that resembled a "slow" season in the ministry but that is simply not the case. We must of been dreaming about it. As we begin to head into spring, we have another SHAN volunteer interest meeting this Saturday. Ladies, if you ever considered or felt the pull of the Lord toward serving in the ministry of She Has A Name, please make plans to attend the meeting this Saturday at 11 AM. This is a beautiful ministry reaching out to ladies who have lost their way and find themselves on the streets of Camden. There are many different ways to serve. The details are below.

And today is the first day that children will be available to be selected for Angel Tree Easter. We began with Angel Tree Christmas in December 1999 and, over the years, the Lord has expanded that to Angel Tree Easter, Angel Tree Undie Sundays and Angel Tree Thanksgiving. Angel Tree Easter is another way that we can provide a "touch" to children who have a mom or dad in prison. Please take a look at the details below and, if the Lord is leading you, consider blessing some children this Easter.

And please consider joining us on Saturday, April 20th for our annual 5K Run for A Life. Come with your family, form a team at church or work or with your small group. It is a great time to support families who have lost someone to addiction. Unfortunately, in one way or another, addiction has touched just about everyone. As the body of Christ, it is an absolute privilege to be able to come alongside people who are going through a difficult season and provide them with love, compassion and the hope offered through the Gospel.

There is so much more that we could say in this introduction but we are going to and with what we and with every time and that is, You are loved, Bill & Brenda

Angel Tree Easter

We are looking for individuals, families & small groups to put together an Easter basket for a child (or children) with an incarcerated mom or dad. This is a GREAT way to serve with your children. Each basket should contain age-appropriate candy for each child and an age-appropriate Easter booklet/coloring book, etc. sharing the reason we celebrate Easter. In addition to the basket, Easter flowers (plant or bouquet) would be great for the caregiver.

On the day before Easter, you would deliver the items to the individual/family that you selected. Once you sign up, you will be given the phone number, name and address to contact to set up a delivery on Saturday, March 30th...You may choose a family by size and location. Click on the button below to select a child/family and for more information. As always, thank you for considering serving the Lord by serving the children with a mom or dad in prison & the person who is caring for them.

RUN FOR A LIFE!!!

What?

Seeds of Hope Ministries is coming alongside individuals and families to bring HOPE to those who are suffering in addiction, those who are battling each day to step away and the families and loved ones of those whose lives have been decimated by the power of addiction. Our 6th Annual Run for a Life--Run/Walk/Pray 5K will not only raise funds to continue this vital ministry but will serve to bring HOPE and Practical Resources to the families and loved ones of those caught in addiction. Would you consider joining us?

Where?

We will begin & end at the Camden Athletic Complex, 401 Delaware Ave, Camden, NJ with the running, walking and praying taking place along the beautiful Camden waterfront.

When?

Saturday, April 20, 2024--Check-In, Pick Up of Race Shirts, etc.

begins @ 8am

5K Run, Walk & Pray begins @ 9am

How You Can Help Right Now?

1) PRAY--Our desire there is that the Lord will be glorified in all that happens on that day. We have been praying about April 20th for months. We want that day to be a place where the families and others who have lost an individual to addiction can come and be bathed in the unconditional love of God. We also desire it to be a place where families who have loved ones who are currently on the street in various addictions can find love, comfort and care from people who have traveled that path before them. So, if you are prompted by the Lord between today and April 2Oth to pray for the Run/Walk/Pray,

please do so.

We serve a mighty and unbelievable God who can change the trajectory of anyone’s life...now and for eternity. It’s not over until Jesus says it’s over. If the Lord prompts you to pray for this outreach opportunity, can you please send us a short note by replying to this email? It can be as simple as “prayed” or you can tell us what the Lord placed on your heart for this ministry event. We say this a lot – but please don’t take it lightly – we covet your prayers individually, as a couple and as a ministry. There is absolutely no way that we

could stay in this battle without them.

You are loved, Bill & Brenda

2) TELL OTHERS BY SPREADING THE WORD--forward the details to your contact list, family, friends, co-workers, classmates and post on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn

3) SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE BY CLICKING ON THIS LINK--Form a team from your church, small group, office, school or register individually.

If you want to patiently and graciously share the Good News while incarnating the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ, you have to admit that you are fundamentally more like your neighbor than unlike them. Not convinced? Check out the devotion below by Paul Tripp.

We had a great group of youth (and some of their parents) from Liberti Church in Collingswood serving at the weekly Neighborhood Breakfast this past Saturday. Thank you for serving the Lord by serving others in His name.

Pictured above is the team from Liberti Church

Thank you so much for those of you who prayed concerning the purchase of a new home to be used as another transitional home for Christian ex-offenders. The tenant vacated and the ministry purchased the property yesterday! Above is a photo of the home (the right-hand side of this twin). Lots of renovations needed...stay tuned to see how you may be able to use your gifts/skills to help!

Good Friday

The Heal Camden lot--this is where we will meet on

Friday, March 29th at 12 noon--right next to the ministry home base--to gather & pray before our She Has A Name (SHAN) team heads out to the streets to love on the ladies and our second team loves on and ministers to those that the Lord sends to us...Our Prayer/Hope Station, hot dogs, snacks, bottled water, Christian music and, of course, the love of Jesus Christ will all be served!

We would love for you to join us.

Please Click HERE for more details