Participants:
Series Code: IIWC
Program Code: IIWC202013S
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00:43 >> Hello and thank you
00:44 for joining us on 00:45 It Is Is Written Canada. 00:47 At this time of the year, 00:48 Christmas, we are reminded of 00:50 how Jesus came to our world 00:53 and there was no room for Him 00:54 to stay anywhere 00:56 but in an unhygienic, filthy 00:59 shelter for animals, 01:00 not exactly a 5-star hotel. 01:03 So the question may be asked, 01:05 what does the birth of a child 01:08 more than 2000 years ago have 01:10 to do with you and with me? 01:13 >> Jesus answered that 01:14 question when He declared: 01:21 In other words, by welcoming 01:23 those who are needy and being 01:25 kind to the less fortunate, 01:27 we are showing love for God. 01:30 >> God identifies Himself 01:31 in a special way with the poor 01:33 and the needy. 01:34 And on that note, we would 01:36 like to take a moment to let 01:38 our friend, Ryan, share with 01:40 you a message with an 01:41 important question 01:42 for you and for me. 01:44 And here's the question: 01:46 What can I give to Jesus 01:49 this Christmas? 01:53 >> Christmas. 01:55 To many it means friends and 01:56 family, a theoretical time of 01:58 peace, love, and joy, 02:00 and the ratio of kid to toy 02:01 is one to five. 02:03 That's about to change when 02:04 Grandma and Grandpa arrive. 02:06 Sounds of crumpled wrapping 02:08 paper and smells of spice, 02:09 fresh cut trees with lights 02:10 that deck the halls 02:11 on silent nights. 02:13 All appealing to that 02:14 sentimental feeling of 02:15 Christmas and that 02:16 ever-growing wish list. 02:17 All the while knowing the 02:18 moment it's finished, 02:20 you're gonna miss this 02:21 and it all starts over. 02:23 Looking forward to the next 02:24 year, perhaps the next 02:25 Christmas concert, 02:27 a new family picture and 02:28 Christmas letter the next 02:29 November, December. 02:32 But for now, we're here, 02:34 in that most wonderful time 02:35 of the year, 02:37 Family gatherings and 02:38 Christmas programs, 02:40 couples holding hands and 02:41 hours stuck in traffic jams, 02:44 waiting in line for your turn 02:45 to take the exit to your local 02:46 shopping centre or mall 02:48 or maybe you're just tryin' 02:49 to get home after a long day, 02:51 there with a million others, 02:52 wrapped up an empty package 02:54 of holiday. 02:56 So completely many missing the 02:58 true reason for the season, 02:59 searching for that sentimental 03:00 feeling, tryin' find joy and 03:02 happiness among the craziness 03:03 of today's Christmas. 03:05 Lost in the frivolity and the 03:07 yearly monotony of this 03:08 holiday philosophy. 03:11 Next time you're in the mall 03:13 or just walkin' down the 03:14 street, just take a look 03:14 at people's faces, 03:16 maybe even your own 03:17 and ask yourself if just maybe 03:18 we're looking for joy in all 03:19 the wrong places 03:20 'cause Christmas... 03:23 Christmas isn't about 03:24 the presents underneath the 03:26 tree, the food, the shopping, 03:27 the lights, Christmas is about 03:30 Jesus Christ, the Son of God, 03:32 the Prince of Peace, 03:32 the King of Kings. 03:34 He bore the cross, 03:35 He died to save, 03:37 He rose from the grave forever 03:38 to bear the scars of the gift 03:39 that He gave. 03:43 Christ bought our freedom, 03:45 but He left it a choice 03:46 'cause that freedom only comes 03:47 from leaving the things of 03:48 this world behind. 03:50 Giving Him our thoughts, 03:51 our wants, our past, 03:52 our worries, our time... 03:55 you fill in the blank. 03:58 He gave all for us, 04:00 what will we give Him 04:02 this Christmas? 04:07 >> He gave all for us, 04:10 what will we give Him 04:12 this Christmas? 04:13 That question challenges me, 04:16 what about you? 04:17 >> Oh, yes, it challenges me 04:19 to look for ways to connect 04:22 with those who are less 04:24 fortunate because in Proverbs 04:27 chapter 14, verse 31 it says: 04:32 It's like, you know, whatever 04:35 you've done for the least of 04:36 these you have done it for Me 04:37 or done it for Jesus. 04:39 There is this place in our 04:41 town called the 04:42 New Life Neighbourhood Centre 04:44 and Rene and I, we drove past 04:47 it one day and we noticed that 04:49 there were people outside the 04:50 centre and they were 04:51 connecting with people within 04:52 the community. 04:53 And it was so practical at 04:54 helping people and 04:57 I said to you at the time, 04:58 "Those people are really" 04:59 "honouring God." 05:01 "They are living the message" 05:02 "of Christmas, they are" 05:04 "helping the least of these." 05:06 And so I connected 05:07 with the pastor, 05:08 Pastor Frank Dell'Erba, 05:10 and I invited him and his 05:12 director for the centre, 05:13 Ann Thompson, to be our 05:15 guests here at 05:16 It Is Written Canada today. 05:18 >> And we are so thankful to 05:20 have them visiting with us to 05:22 tell us about their work. 05:24 Welcome, Ann Thompson 05:25 and Pastor Frank to 05:26 It Is Written Canada. 05:27 [Ann] Thank you for having us. 05:28 [Frank] It's a pleasure 05:29 to be here. 05:30 >> So, Anne, I wanna start 05:31 with you. 05:31 So you are the director of the 05:33 New Life Neighbourhood Centre 05:35 and before, let's go back. 05:37 What got you personally 05:38 interested in helping those 05:40 who are poor and needy? 05:42 I know you weren't always the 05:43 director, so what 05:44 got you started? 05:46 >> Well, for many years I've 05:47 watched my husband get up 05:49 early Sunday mornings to go to 05:51 the centre to serve breakfast 05:54 and distribute food. 05:56 I couldn't understand his 05:58 dedication, so-- because 06:00 I was a morning person, 06:02 he wasn't a morning person. 06:03 So I decided to join him one 06:05 Sunday morning. 06:06 As I walked in, I was assigned 06:08 a table with bread to 06:10 distribute to the people 06:12 when they come in. 06:13 The first person who came 06:15 through the door was a young 06:16 mother with two young 06:17 children, ages 4 and 5. 06:22 They walked directly to my 06:23 table, the kids stood there 06:26 and looked at me, 06:28 I looked at them. 06:30 They were all messy, dirty, 06:33 it was the middle of winter, 06:35 they had on just little 06:36 sweaters, no boots. 06:38 The one had mittens on and 06:41 it was torn with the little 06:42 fingers peaking out 06:44 and the mom was all jittery, 06:47 I understood later that she 06:49 was on and off drugs. 06:50 That broke my heart and 06:52 prompted me to get involved. 06:54 But I never got involved 06:56 until years later. 06:58 I had a major accident and 07:01 decided to take early 07:02 retirement and it was at that 07:04 time I was approached by one 07:07 of the elders. 07:09 He asked if I could take over 07:11 the operation of the centre. 07:12 I said to him, "No, that's" 07:14 "not for me, I can't do that." 07:16 And he said, "Just pray about" 07:18 "it, take a few days" 07:19 "and pray about it." 07:21 And I said, "OK, I will," 07:23 "I will think about it." 07:25 'Cause I wanted to-- 07:26 wanted him to stop. 07:28 I went home, the Saturday 07:33 morning, that was Thursday, 07:34 Saturday morning about 3:30 07:36 I had a dream. 07:38 I woke up and I could not go 07:39 back to sleep. 07:41 The dream was, 07:43 "Read the story of Dorcas" 07:45 "and go and feed My sheep." 07:49 I got up, 07:51 I struggled with that. 07:52 I picked up the Bible and 07:54 started flipping through 07:55 to find the story. 07:57 I woke my husband and said 07:59 to him, "Do you know where" 08:00 "the story about the lady who" 08:02 "helped people in the Bible?" 08:04 "Where can I find that?" 08:05 And he said, "There are many" 08:07 "women who helped people" 08:08 "in the Bible, which one?" 08:10 "The Dorcas story?" 08:11 I said, "Yes!" 08:12 And I told him my dream and 08:15 he said, "What are you gonna" 08:16 "do about that?" 08:17 I said, "I can't do that." 08:20 You know? 08:21 So I struggled 08:23 and then I said, "Lord," 08:25 "OK, I'll give it five years" 08:29 "and that's it." 08:31 Here I am eight years later. 08:33 I've been blessed and humbled 08:35 by this journey. 08:37 Serving, listening, 08:40 encouraging people. 08:41 It has been such a blessing. 08:44 [Rene] Mm-hm, that's wonderful! 08:45 So... 08:46 And Pastor Frank, 08:48 you have pastored at many 08:51 different congregations. 08:53 How is this congregation 08:55 different to the others that 08:57 you've pastored at? 08:59 >> Well, I think some of it, 09:02 Ann kind of exemplifies that 09:03 what's happening at that 09:05 church, every church has a DNA 09:07 that God calls that church to 09:09 be uniquely a blessing 09:10 to the world. 09:11 What I found at New Life 09:13 though was that we're a group 09:15 of people that... 09:17 we understand brokenness. 09:20 All of us have been through 09:21 stuff, including me. 09:23 And that means because we've 09:25 been broken and we've 09:26 experienced the healing of 09:27 Jesus, it's a natural thing to 09:30 not judge others who are going 09:32 through struggles. 09:34 And this church has tried in 09:36 many different ways to be a 09:39 blessing to others just 09:40 because they feel that's the 09:42 heart of what Jesus is about. 09:44 And so there's not much 09:46 arguments about stuff in the 09:47 church about, you know, 09:48 this theology or 09:49 that theology, it's-- 09:50 We all feel very clearly that 09:52 the mission of Jesus, 09:53 as you mentioned with 09:54 Matthew 25, you know, 09:56 "the least of these." 09:57 [Mike] Yes. 09:58 [Frank] And so I've seen this 09:59 church be very open and very 10:01 willing to try new things to 10:02 be a blessing like the church 10:04 picnic we have in the summer 10:06 when we cancel church and we 10:07 just go out and feed the 10:09 community and we have our 10:10 praise team out there. 10:11 It's just trying new things 10:12 just to lift up Jesus. 10:14 And it's been a great journey 10:15 for me as a pastor. 10:17 >> That's very practical 10:19 working in the community. 10:20 So I've got so many 10:22 questions, you know, 10:23 who, what, when, where... 10:25 So I just wanna ask you, Ann, 10:27 what are you doing? 10:29 Like, what specifics are the 10:32 needs within the community? 10:35 >> We've identified three main 10:37 areas of need in the 10:40 community: food security and 10:43 hygiene, housing, 10:44 and job opportunities. 10:47 And here are some of the 10:48 things we're doing 10:49 to address those: 10:51 We do a weekly meal box 10:53 distribution, it's mainly 10:55 groceries, three-- 10:58 the meal is three healthy 11:00 meals per day, 7 to 10 days, 11:03 to last them to 10 days. 11:06 And we have fed over 3000. 11:10 We have delivered over 3000 of 11:12 those meal boxes each year. 11:15 We also handled hygiene 11:17 packages, monthly for females 11:20 and quarterly for families. 11:23 We also have what we call 11:25 Special Event Dinner. 11:27 This happens around Christmas 11:29 time where we hand out turkey 11:31 hampers, we have Christmas 11:33 dinner with the community 11:35 members, we hand out toys and 11:39 gifts to the members-- to the 11:42 community members just to make 11:45 Christmas special for them. 11:47 'Cause it's a special time of 11:48 the year and they don't have 11:49 families, most of them, they 11:51 don't have the means to have a 11:55 turkey dinner so we do that. 11:57 We also distribute backpacks 12:01 for the homeless and we do 12:03 this once or twice a year 12:05 in Memorial Park, 12:06 downtown Oshawa. 12:08 You know, I'll just say one 12:10 story, we gave out a backpack 12:12 to a homeless man one winter 12:15 and he said, "You brought" 12:17 "Christmas to me today." 12:19 He had no gloves, his hands 12:20 were frozen, he said, 12:21 "Thank you so much." 12:23 "This is my Christmas." 12:25 So those are the-- some of the 12:26 things we do for food. 12:28 >> So how do you afford to 12:30 meet all these needs and to do 12:32 all these programs? 12:34 [Frank] Well, that's 12:35 a good question. 12:37 It's pretty amazing because 12:40 I would say 100% of the 12:42 Neighbourhood Centre is funded 12:44 outside the church by donors 12:45 who just believe in what 12:47 we're doing. 12:48 Our church doesn't have a lot 12:50 of money, we're in downtown 12:51 Oshawa, and a lot of our, 12:53 you know, we just don't have a 12:54 lot of means and yet people 12:57 see that we're trying to help 12:59 without strings attached, 13:01 you know, it's not like people 13:02 have to hear a sermon in order 13:03 to get food, we just love them 13:05 where they are. 13:06 And so there's-- we've 13:08 multipled organizations and... 13:12 So it's amazing that God 13:14 provides because everyone 13:15 believes that, you know, 13:18 poverty is bigger than any one 13:19 church, it's bigger than any 13:20 one organization. 13:21 We have to work together and I 13:23 find that there's a lot of 13:24 people that are willing to 13:25 help when you're doing work 13:26 that is blessing others. 13:30 >> So I'm interested 13:31 in the who. 13:32 Tell us some stories, 13:34 specific stories of people 13:35 that you've helped. 13:37 [Frank] OK. Well, some of my 13:38 favourites...like William. 13:41 William, my good friend, 13:43 William, he came to the 13:45 Neighbourhood Centre as a 13:46 client and there was something 13:48 there that he appreciated, 13:50 he appreciated the way he 13:51 was treated, and he asked 13:53 about becoming a volunteer 13:55 which is a process that 13:56 happens quite regularly, 13:59 you know, and we have a 14:00 process where they have to get 14:01 a police check and so on and 14:02 he did so and so he began 14:04 to volunteer. 14:05 But when I first met him, 14:06 I remember him saying to me, 14:08 "Pastor Frank," 14:10 "I'm an atheist." 14:11 "I don't wanna hear any of" 14:12 "this God stuff," you know. 14:14 He was very firm, you know, 14:16 he made it very clear and 14:17 I said, "That's OK, William," 14:19 "I'm just glad you're here," 14:20 "glad you're part of the" 14:21 "family, that you're helping" 14:22 "out here and..." 14:23 And that was that. 14:25 And every time he would see 14:26 me, you know, it was, 14:27 "Pastor Frank," 14:28 "I'm an atheist..." You know? 14:29 And he would talk about his 14:30 atheist stuff, but we accepted 14:34 him, you know, that's where he 14:35 was at, that's what he knew. 14:37 But over time, there was-- 14:41 Something was changing in him, 14:42 but I didn't see it, we didn't 14:43 know what was happening under 14:45 the surface because in 14:48 September of 2018 he 14:49 approached me and he said, 14:50 "Pastor Frank, I'd like to" 14:51 "talk to you." 14:53 In my mind I'm like, 14:54 "Oh, great, he's gonna tell" 14:55 "me more about athei--" 14:56 you know, "how he's an" 14:57 "atheist," and stuff like that. 14:58 And when we met, he said, 14:59 "Pastor Frank, I wanna do" 15:02 "Bible studies with you," 15:03 "I wanna be baptized." 15:05 I was like, 15:06 well, I was like my jaw hit 15:08 the floor, you know? 15:09 I'm like, "Lord," you know, 15:10 "I'm a pastor, I should" 15:12 "believe Your power," 15:13 "but this is amazing." 15:14 And like I couldn't-- 15:15 I didn't see it coming. 15:17 And it seemed that over time, 15:18 you know, as he worked with 15:20 the Neighbourhood Centre 15:21 volunteers, under Ann's 15:23 leadership, you know, every 15:24 time they met, the food banks 15:26 opened, they'd have a 15:27 devotional and he would just sit 15:28 quietly, you know, he wouldn't 15:30 say anything, but something 15:32 was working into his heart and 15:34 he began to sense a need. 15:36 And I had the pleasure of 15:38 baptizing him in June of 2019 15:40 and he's a member of the 15:41 church today, you know... 15:43 And another quick story 15:44 is Norman. 15:45 Norman is another person who 15:46 came as a client, 15:48 connected with others and 15:51 little by little, and it's a 15:53 gradual process, right? 15:54 A lot of the time we just want 15:55 an instant result, but you 15:57 befriend them, you love them 15:58 and you let God do His thing. 16:00 And over time, Norman began to 16:03 do Bible studies, he was 16:05 baptized and today he is one 16:07 of our most trusted deacons, 16:09 he has a key to the church and 16:11 he does fantastic work, so 16:13 God is good, God-- 16:14 all we need to do is love and 16:16 God does His thing. 16:17 [Mike] Yeah, that's beautiful. 16:19 >> So it's not friendship 16:21 evangelism, it's really 16:23 friendship because you are 16:25 accepting these people 16:27 as they are, you're giving 16:29 them a sense of belonging and 16:31 you're not judging them. 16:33 [Ann] Friendship. 16:34 We're making friendships, 16:36 you know, and we are meeting 16:38 them where they are and 16:40 journeying with them. 16:42 One story that stands out to 16:44 me is of a young lady, 16:47 I'll call her "Kathy." 16:49 She-- the first time I met 16:51 her, I met her by the garbage 16:53 dump at the church, at the 16:55 side of the church. 16:57 I asked her, "What are you" 16:58 "doing there?" 17:00 She said, "Oh, I go around" 17:01 "and clean up the church," 17:02 "the garbage around" 17:04 "the church." 17:05 She struggled with drugs, 17:10 homelessness, hopelessness. 17:13 She started coming to the 17:15 centre on and off. 17:17 One day she came to the 17:18 continental breakfast and I 17:21 invited her to join me 17:24 upstairs for the service. 17:26 She came up, and that day 17:28 Pastor Elizabeth Pule was 17:31 preaching and her topic was 17:34 "Light Their Candle." 17:36 This young lady got up-- 17:38 Pastor Pule asked for a 17:40 volunteer to help demonstrate 17:42 the lighting of the candle. 17:44 She got up out of her seat and 17:45 went right up and I was so 17:47 nervous, I'm going [gasps] 17:48 'cause I don't know what's 17:49 gonna happen here, you know? 17:51 So she took part in that 17:54 demonstration and after the 17:58 service I didn't see her for 18:00 a couple months, 18:02 almost a year. 18:04 One day she showed up 18:05 at the centre. 18:07 Somebody said to me, 18:08 "There's a lady out there" 18:09 "looking for you." 18:11 When I went to the door 18:13 I didn't even recognize 18:14 this person. 18:16 She was all cleaned up, 18:19 she had on this nice suit, 18:21 and she said, 18:23 "Ann, it's Kathy." 18:24 And she hugged me. 18:26 And she just said, "I just" 18:27 "wanted to thank you guys for" 18:29 "what you have done for me." 18:31 "That sermon that day" 18:33 "impacted my life" 18:34 "in a big way." 18:36 "I have quit drugs" 18:39 "cold turkey and I have" 18:42 "gotten myself a job" 18:43 "and now I'm lighting" 18:45 "other people's candle" 18:46 "in the community." 18:48 [Mike] That's beautiful. 18:49 >> It's just amazing. 18:50 [Rene] Oh, I got goosebumps 18:51 just think-- 18:52 Total transformation. 18:53 [Ann] Total transformation. 18:54 [Rene] Wow! 18:56 >> So I wanna ask you a 18:57 question about the why. 18:58 What is your dream? 19:00 What do you want to achieve? 19:02 What's the end goal 19:03 of what you're doing? 19:06 [Frank] Well, Rene, you just 19:07 said it, you know, 19:08 transformation. 19:09 See, one of the things we 19:11 noticed over time, we would 19:13 help people with food or 19:15 hygiene products or whatever 19:16 it is and of course they're 19:18 grateful, but they come back, 19:19 you know, and we have one of 19:21 those jobs that we don't wanna 19:22 be successful. 19:23 We would love that nobody came 19:24 for food because they help-- 19:25 they had what they needed. 19:27 And one of the things we 19:29 realized is that we need to do 19:30 more than alleviation, we need 19:31 to see transformation. 19:33 And how do we do that? 19:34 So we began to think about 19:37 journeying with people over 19:38 the long haul, investing in 19:39 them and we started what's 19:42 called the SLIP program which 19:43 is sponsored by the True 19:45 Potential, we're partnering 19:46 with this organization and 19:48 what we've done is that-- 19:50 we take about 15 people at a 19:51 time, people we see that have 19:53 the potential to move forward 19:56 in their lives with 19:57 transformation. 19:59 And over a period of twelve 20:00 weeks, twice a week they meet, 20:02 the founder Karen Bell along 20:04 with Ann and Daniel Cullen, 20:06 they work with these folks 20:08 to-- these participants to 20:11 teach life skills, to help 20:13 them learn confidence, to... 20:16 just whatever they're needing 20:17 at that time, whether it's 20:18 struggling with drugs 20:19 or trying to find a job 20:20 or whatever it is. 20:21 And so we are-- 20:23 This journey is helping them 20:24 become the people they have 20:26 always dreamed they could be, 20:27 but maybe nobody believed they 20:28 could, they didn't believe 20:29 they could... 20:30 And so we're loving this 20:32 because-- and it's happening 20:33 literally, you know, as of 20:34 this recording, it's happening 20:35 right now at the 20:36 Neighbourhood Centre. 20:38 And Ann's been telling me 20:39 stories of the transformation 20:40 we're already seeing there. 20:42 And so that's our end goal. 20:43 We wanna see people 20:44 transformed, finding Christ, 20:46 finding life... 20:48 [Mike] Absolutely. 20:49 >> And then passing on the-- 20:50 lighting the candle of others, 20:51 as you said. 20:53 [Rene] That's wonderful! 20:55 So if we have some viewers 20:57 that are watching and they're 20:58 thinking to themselves, 20:59 "We would love to start a" 21:01 "program like this." 21:02 What advice would you 21:03 give them? 21:05 >> I would say find out the 21:07 needs of your community. 21:09 Not what you want, what they 21:12 really need and find a way 21:14 to get involved, the area you 21:16 can best get involved in, 21:18 do that. 21:20 Choose leaders and volunteers 21:23 who have the heart for service 21:25 and connected with 21:27 God as well. 21:29 You need lots of volunteers 21:30 because you're gonna get burnt 21:31 out, you know, so you need 21:33 lots of volunteers and we have 21:34 about over a hundred 21:36 volunteers spread out among 21:37 the different programs. 21:39 Also, don't preach. 21:41 Don't preach to the community, 21:44 the people you're 21:45 interacting with. 21:46 Live what you preach. 21:48 Show them respect, love, 21:50 and compassion 21:52 and they will remember. 21:53 Don't judge them. 21:55 They're already going through 21:56 a lot, they feel like they're 21:57 not enough, they're being 22:00 judged and so they're afraid 22:01 and embarrassed, a lot of them 22:04 are embarrassed to even come to 22:05 get a meal box. 22:06 They'll say, 22:08 "This is my last time" 22:09 "I won't be coming back." 22:11 So you have to be very caring 22:13 and respectful, loving and 22:15 compassion because that's what 22:17 we do, that's what we show, 22:20 God's love to our fellow man. 22:24 >> So in closing, 22:25 Pastor Frank, if there's 22:28 someone watching and they're 22:29 thinking, you know, 22:30 "It's Christmas time, how can" 22:32 "I show my love for Jesus?" 22:34 "How can I reach" 22:35 "out to others?" 22:37 Do you have a word of 22:38 encouragement, something from 22:39 the Bible to share with them? 22:41 >> Yeah, sure. 22:43 I think the thing that comes 22:45 to mind right away is that 22:46 this is not rocket science. 22:48 We as humans tend to make 22:50 things complicated. 22:53 But loving people like in 22:54 Matthew 25, it just talks 22:56 about, you know, "I was in" 22:57 "prison, you visited me," 22:58 "I needed food, you gave me" 22:59 "something to eat..." 23:00 That's very basic, basic love, 23:01 you know? 23:02 >> Yeah, just showing up. 23:03 [Frank] Just showing up, yeah. 23:04 And I think to-- you know, 23:05 some people think that in 23:07 order for me to help the, 23:08 you know, someone who's poor, 23:10 I need to be on the front 23:12 lines and I need to go into 23:13 situations that may be unsafe 23:15 and that's not necessarily so. 23:17 You have some people on the 23:18 front lines like Ann is and 23:20 you have other people that 23:21 are, you know, more in-- 23:22 working in the background and 23:24 anyone can do anything, 23:26 you know, you can do something 23:27 to help, you know? 23:28 When you have this thought 23:30 that you can give someone a 23:32 fish and over time you can 23:33 teach them how to fish, 23:35 you know, for themselves. 23:36 The Neighbourhood Centre 23:37 started-- 23:38 before it was just like a box 23:39 of food that members would 23:40 just bring and as it got full, 23:42 you know, they could bring it 23:43 to somebody. 23:44 It was just a simple thing. 23:45 >> Yeah, free fish, 23:46 but now you-- 23:47 [Frank] Now it's something 23:49 that we're teaching people how 23:50 to fish and there's thousands 23:51 of people that are being 23:52 helped and it's kind of 23:53 multiplying with other things. 23:55 So God will grow it, just do 23:57 what you can in your vineyard, 23:59 in your neck of the woods. 24:01 >> Yeah, yeah, just start. 24:02 [Frank] Yeah, just start. 24:03 And as Jesus said, you know, 24:05 Matthew 25, verse 40, 24:07 "Inasmuch as you have done it" 24:08 "to the least of these," 24:09 "you've done it to Me." 24:10 So really I don't see helping 24:12 the poor and service as a 24:14 department of the church, 24:16 I see it as the Gospel. 24:17 [Mike] Yes, yes, absolutely, 24:18 absolutely. 24:19 [Frank] Be a blessing. 24:20 >> Thank you for blessing us, 24:21 both of you. 24:22 I wonder if you could close 24:23 with a word of prayer for us? 24:24 [Frank] Certainly. 24:25 >> Pastor Frank, thank you. 24:26 [Frank] Yes, let's pray. 24:28 Heavenly Father, you know, 24:29 I think from Your perspective, 24:31 we are all poor there but for 24:32 the grace of God go I. 24:34 We could all be that person 24:36 that is down and out, 24:37 struggling with various things 24:40 and so we don't approach this 24:41 from a position of superiority 24:43 or pride, but we are humbled 24:45 realizing, Lord, that you see 24:47 us all in need and You died 24:49 for each one of us. 24:51 So I pray that you would touch 24:52 the hearts of everyone 24:54 listening today that you could 24:56 let them know, Lord, that 24:57 they, through Your power, 24:59 You can make them so 25:00 much of a blessing wherever 25:01 they are, they just need to 25:03 ask and be open to You. 25:05 That they can touch other lives 25:07 just as You have touched them. 25:09 So thank You for empowering 25:10 us, thank You for Jesus who 25:12 shows us the way of love that 25:14 is the Gospel and that can 25:16 live it out in our 25:17 day to day lives. 25:18 Thank You, in Jesus' name, 25:19 amen. 25:20 [Others] Amen! 25:21 >> So, Pastor Frank and Ann, 25:23 thank you once again 25:24 for joining us on 25:25 It Is Written Canada. 25:27 [Frank] Thank you! 25:28 It's been a pleasure. 25:28 [Ann] It has. 25:29 [Frank] God bless you. 25:32 >> While I was listening to 25:34 Ann Thompson and Pastor Frank 25:35 Dell'Erba, I was reminded of 25:37 how so many people are tempted 25:40 to give up on life because 25:42 they feel like they're never 25:43 really going to be good enough. 25:46 And the question keeps 25:48 haunting them: 25:49 "Will I ever be good enough?" 25:50 And often, sadly, 25:51 the answer is "No." 25:54 The thoughts of their past 25:56 trouble them and torment them 25:58 and they feel that they can 26:00 never be good enough. 26:03 >> The title of our free offer 26:05 today addresses that question, 26:07 Am I Good Enough? 26:10 This little booklet is 26:11 completely free of charge to 26:13 you so get your smart phone 26:15 ready or a pen and paper to 26:17 take down the details of how 26:19 you can get this free offer, 26:21 Am I Good Enough? 26:24 To request today's offer, 26:26 You may call toll free at 26:28 1-888-CALL-IIW. 26:31 That's 1-888-CALL-IIW. 26:35 Friends, we'd also like to 26:37 invite you to follow us on 26:38 Instagram and Facebook and 26:40 subscribe to our YouTube 26:42 channel and also listen 26:44 to our Podcasts. 26:46 And if you go to our webpage, 26:48 you can see our latest 26:49 programs including our 26:51 exercise workouts and healthy 26:53 eating videos called, 26:55 Experiencing Life and our 26:57 short spiritual messages 26:59 entitled, Daily Living. 27:02 [Mike] And they are all there 27:03 free for you to watch whenever 27:06 you choose because we want you 27:08 to experience the truth that 27:10 is found in the words of Jesus 27:12 when He said, "It is written," 27:14 "man shall not not live by" 27:15 "bread alone, but by every" 27:17 "word that proceeds out of" 27:19 "the mouth of God." 27:22 ♪You're the God of this city 27:25 ♪You're the king 27:26 ♪of these people 27:28 ♪You're the Lord 27:29 ♪of this nation 27:31 ♪You are 27:34 ♪You're the light 27:35 ♪in the darkness 27:37 ♪You're the hope 27:38 ♪to the hopeless 27:40 ♪You're the peace 27:41 ♪to the restless 27:43 ♪You are 27:47 ♪There is no one like our God 27:53 ♪There is no one 27:55 ♪like You, God 27:59 ♪Greater things 28:00 ♪have yet to come 28:02 ♪Greater things have still 28:04 ♪to be done in the city 28:11 ♪Greater things 28:12 ♪have yet to come 28:14 ♪Greater things have still 28:15 ♪to be done here 28:22 ♪You're the Lord of creation 28:25 ♪The Creator of all things 28:28 ♪You're the King 28:29 ♪above all Kings 28:31 ♪You are 28:34 ♪You're the strength 28:35 ♪in the weakness 28:37 ♪You're the love 28:38 ♪to the broken 28:40 ♪You're the joy 28:41 ♪in the sadness 28:43 ♪You are 28:47 ♪There is no one like our God 28:53 ♪There is no one 28:55 ♪like You, God |
Revised 2020-12-24