Greetings
Friends
As I began
this update, I thought about the people that
I will be sending this to, and I couldn't
help but marvel at the work of God. What
these e-mail addresses represent are godly
connections ... virtually impossible
for Martie and me to make on our own
... representing so many churches in so many
denominations in so many states (33
states actually) ... so many
believers representing the Church ... the
body of Christ. Thank you. Thank you for
saying "yes" to God when He asked you to
join us in the work here. Thank you for not
only blessing the people here but Martie and
me as well ... for bringing the hope and
the light of Christ to the Gulf Coast with
you, .... thank you and praise God.
As I was
preparing some food for the Pathfinder
Shrimp Boil, one of the volunteers from
Apple Valley, Ca asked, "You really enjoy
this don't you?" Now at the time I was
cutting on some ears of corn. I knew it
couldn't be the corn he was referring to. I
said "Yes, I love it". God has us doing
what we love ... helping people ......
encouraging believers in their faith ...
providing opportunity for them to stretch
their wings in ministry .... and telling
others about the great love that God has for
them and the hope that is found in Christ.
Now I think he might have also been talking
about the heat, the hurricanes and the bugs
as well but, all of that is lost in the
background of the mighty acts of God that we
have seen and experienced during our time on
the coast. By the way, that supper was
awesome ... boiled shrimp ... fresh from the
Gulf, fried oysters ... fresh from the Gulf
.... fried fish ... yes, fresh from the Gulf
.... yum!
Volunteers
from High Desert Church in Victorville, CA just
left. We were pretty slim on
volunteers this summer, but the work is
picking back up. We are helping finish a
home for a widow who lives in Long Beach --
Mississippi not California --- she is still
in her FEMA trailer .. one of two trailers
left in Long Beach. The house is nearly
completed - waiting
on the final inspection. We are also
finished
the stairs and insulation on the Wells
house. I have posted some pictures on our
web site if you would like to have a look
...
http://www.pathfindermission.org/volunteers.html
We just
completed our annual Board meeting this past
Thursday. I presented where Pathfinder is
going for the next two years. I'll share a
little of it with you. Martie just received
an e-mail from a friend of ours asking about
the camp and our continued operation. As a
past U.S. President was known to say "Let me
make this perfectly clear" we still need
volunteers to help with rebuilding. Most
likely for the next year and maybe two.
Rebuilding
We are
working with the Hancock County Housing
Resource Center to help with some 800 open
work orders for this county. We are also
working with International Relief and
Development in Gulfport to help with the
building of 130 homes for Katrina victims.
Now we are NOT building 130 homes, but they
have asked us to help them with the task.
We are working with CANDO.org in California
to finish homes that are hung up because of
funding. Can Do is providing the funds, we
are providing the labor and oversight. We
just finished the Wells house with Can Do's
help and will finish the Reyer house when
the group from Orlando, Fl arrives in early
November. Four of our teams ( 2 from
Atlanta, GA and 2 from the High Desert, CA)
worked on the Harris house for IRD to finish
it.
Refining The Definition of Recovery
For
many people, response to disasters, such as
Katrina, means providing help during the
first days and weeks after the disaster with
restoration of basic life support … shelter,
food, clothing, medical treatment. While
others want to be involved beyond that phase
with the restoration of whatever was
destroyed … homes, businesses, churches,
public services. And yet, others move
further beyond that to assist with the
relational, emotional, and spiritual needs
that have been exacerbated by the
destruction and displacement caused by the
disaster.
Recovery
assistance does not end when the last nail
is driven ... really it never has been about
the houses ... it's about the people who
live in the houses. For the past four years
they have been in a silent struggle to
survive; emotionally, relationally,
spiritually, and financially. Murder,
suicide, drug crimes, domestic abuse, drug
and alcohol abuse is out of control... all
are at an all time high in Hancock County. When
you talk with folks here, they know
something should be done … but they don’t
know what can be done, they don’t know how
it can be done and they don’t know who will
do it.
The Lord gave me a verse some months back
that, I believe, was intended to help shape
this new direction of our ministry .... 1
Samuel 22:2 "All those who were in
distress or in debt or discontented gathered
around him" When we said we were about
rebuilding houses and restoring lives ...
most of what the volunteers have seen is the
rebuilding houses part. Now it's time to
also focus on restoring lives. What men
can't do ... God can.
We
believe that God brought us here for such a
time as this. Beginning in
January, Pathfinder will launch a
ministry called Celebrate
Recovery. Celebrate Recovery brings healing
from hurts, habits and hang-ups associated
with chemical addictions, compulsive
behaviors, and personal relationship
dysfunctions through a relationship with the
One who can bring true – eternal healing,
Jesus Christ. I have been talking with Ben
Dedeaux, the pastor of Old Spanish Trail BC
in Waveland. (In fact I have been leading
the worship there on Sunday mornings) His
church has agreed to let us use their
facility to hold the CR meetings. The
members of OSTBC are open to a partnership
with Pathfinder to reach the unchurched
people in Hancock County though CR. One
concern we had was contention over
facilities needed to support rebuilding and
those need to support the CR ministry, Our
relationship with OSTBC has solved that.
God is good!
More on Celebrate Recovery
next month.
Support of the Ministry
Before we
established Pathfinder Mission, my brother,
Don, told me that with respect to seeking
support for the work here, we should ask God
and tell people. We want you to know that
we do need support for this work, both
personally and for the operational costs
associated with rebuilding and other
ministry. We are not anxious about God's
provision, but are confident that God
provides where He guides.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) Do not
be anxious about anything, but in
everything, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus. We also
know that the way God provides is through
people, so we would like you to prayerfully
consider supporting Pathfinder Mission,
financially.
So how do
you do that? We have four
general categories for funds, Camp
Operations, Rebuilding, Celebrate
Recovery and Personal Support. If
you would like to help support Martie and me
then include a note with your check
indicating that your donation is for "Elgin
Personal Support", otherwise indicate it's
for operations or rebuilding. Sometimes we
receive a donation that simply says "for the
most pressing needs of the ministry". In
those cases that donation is always used for
rebuilding or operational expenses and will
not be used for personal support. Our
mailing address is Pathfinder Mission, P.O.
Box 3313, Bay Saint Louis, MS 39521.
(We) thank
my God every time (we) remember you. In
all (our) prayers for all of you, (we)
always pray with joy because of your
partnership
in the gospel from the first day until now,
being confident of this, that he who began a
good work in you will carry it on to
completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Phil 1:3-6 (NIV)
Charley
By His Grace and
for His Glory
Charley
Elgin
Pathfinder
Mission
www.pathfindermission.org
228.493.1081
Isaiah 58 Rebuilding Houses -
Restoring Lives
