So I'm back to talk more about The Lost boys.... kind of.

Lately I have felt like maybe we are not doing enough as Christians in America. We are beyond blessed. I know that God blesses us with numerous things and for that I am grateful, but lately I have been wondering if we as Christians are doing enough to give back and to live our lives for Him.








Yes, we go to Bible study, we read our Bibles each day (sometimes), we volunteer to help out others once a week, we go to church on Sundays, we give the homeless guy on the corner a few bucks, but is that enough?

I was just thinking about how easy it is to be a Christian in America. We can do our few things and check them off the list, and typically if we do all of the above, we are way ahead of the rest of the "Christians" in America. But, is that enough for you? I guess I'm writing this because I don't think that it is enough for me. (We will see if I make any changes though. I'm not perfect.)

Should we be pouring our entire lives into serving others and teaching them about God? I mean spending all of the free time we have serving others? It is definitely not the norm to be spending all of your free time helping others and telling them about Christ, but are we supposed to be a part of that norm?

So, the reason I started thinking about all of this is because while I really really want to volunteer for refugees that come here from Africa and other countries, I am wondering how much time I want to spend doing this. Do I want to spend my free nights that I have doing something else? That's when I started thinking that maybe these free nights are not my nights in the first place. They are God's. Shouldn't I be spending them helping others and doing God's work? I think so. (but deep down I don't want to admit it because that really does call for a big change when you think about it.)

I know that we also need rest, but that's what the Sabbath is for. That's what God made it for, and I think that when He did that, He wanted us to be working all of the other days for Him.

Anyway, you don't have to agree with me. These are just thoughts. BUT, here is the information from Northwest Bible Church to help out these refugees. You can do some really cool stuff!

Ministry Overview

A refugee is a person who "owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country..."
The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees

Nestled in the heart of Dallas, Vickery is a blend of cultures (low income, immigrant, and refugee) which provides for a unique opportunity for inner-city ministry just minutes from Northwest Bible Church. Refugee Outreach at Northwest Bible Church is a ministry primarily focused on the international refugee community of Dallas.

The refugee community is made up of refugees from around 65 countries. Northwest’s refugee ministry works with those from about 20 of those countries. Some of the countries that are represented are: Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia, Columbia, Cuba, Russia, Mexico, Vietnam, Congo, Somalia, Liberia, Togo, Burundi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Sudan. In additional to the specific needs below, other opportunities to serve include:
· Help with transportation issues (e.g., permit/drivers' licenses, buying a car/s, using public buses, inviting refugees to church, etc.)
· Help with income tax/paperwork
· Help with job search or connection to job opportunities
Contact the Outreach Office at 214.368.6436.

Ministry Opportunities

ESL Classes
There are currently opportunities to teach English as a Second Language to refugees in Vickery. If you are interested contact the Outreach Department for more information.

Kids Bible Club
Tuesdays at the Ivanhoe apartments, 8900 Park Lane.
The Ivanhoe Kids Bible Club is a fun-filled time to play games, sing songs, and teach 4 through 10-year-old refugee and urban American kids about Jesus and life. We meet year-round each Tuesday night from 5:30 to 7:00, and we take a Saturday field trip each month or so as well. Our kids need lots of encouragement and mentoring as they navigate their multi-cultural growing up experiences; and they are incredibly loveable!

Get Involved

· Play with kids and offer your presence weekly
· Help teach Biblical life lessons
· Lead song time
· Lead games
· Develop group and one-on-one mentoring relationships with kids
· Help chaperon field trips

Contact
Stephanie Hoke: steph81682@aol.com

Directions8900 Park Lane, meet at the recreation room right next to the leasing office. From 75 N, turn right onto Park Lane; cross over Greenville and stay straight on Park through the 5-way intersection. Once you pass Pineland, the next stop light, the Ivanhoe will be the last apartment complex on your right before Park dead-ends into Abrams.

Teen Girls’ Group Tutoring
Flexible times and locations

The Teen Girls’ Group meets every Monday night and is focused on teaching Biblical life lessons in a fun environment for girls ages 12-18. We currently have enough Monday night volunteers because it is a small group structure, but the girls desperately need tutoring, as most of them struggle to keep up in school. We are looking for individuals who can meet with one to three girls per session for tutoring in math, science, or language arts once a week or once every other week on your own time.

Get Involved:
· Tutor one to three girls together for one hour once a week or every other week
· Subjects needed are math, science, and language arts (English, reading, writing)

Contact:
Stephanie Hoke: Steph81682@aol.com

Befriend a Refugee
Refugees arrive in Dallas, Texas overwhelmed by many things: loss of home, a new city, climate, culture, technology, food, and more. As the individuals and families arrive we have an opportunity to be a “friend”. This could mean anything from simply getting to know the family and their background to teaching basic shopping skills, how to use new cleaning products or assist in job-finding. You might also have the opportunity to welcome families as they arrive at Dallas-Forth Worth International Airport.

Training is required.

Contact the Outreach Office at 214.368.6436.

The Warehouse
The Warehouse is a ministry to new refugees arriving in Dallas, Texas through placement agencies such as The International Rescue Committee. Refugees are given an opportunity to visit the warehouse to receive needed household items and clothing. The following donations are being accepted:

Household Items

· Large stock pots and pans
· Blankets
· Hair dryers
· Bed sheets in single and double sizes
· Vacuum cleaners
· Dictionaries
· Microwave ovens
· Rice cookers
· Televisions/Radios
· Answering machines

Clothes


· Children's in all sizes
· Coats
· Men's
· Shoes
· Please no women's clothes

Baby Items (contact organization first)

· Diapers
· Cribs
· Baby strollers
· Car seats

Other
· Toys for children of all ages
· Backpacks for school
Please keep all donations to this list. The warehouse cannot currently sort and storeother items. If you have items to donate not included on this list, contact Joel Simbitti at the church to find out if the items can be used elsewhere.
Contact
Kyle Jenkins: skylejenkins@aol.com