"An act of kindness restores the soul"

We've been meeting with a small group on South 9th Street in Modesto for almost a year now.  We started out at Shiva's motel which burned down and we moved on to the 9th Street doughnut shop for the last little bit.  We have gone through the gospel of John and now are making our way through St. Paul's letter to the Romans.

The last few weeks, we have found the doughnut shop to be closed, so in true 9th Street Cafe style, we just pulled chairs out of the van and met right on the street.  Here lately we've been piling everyone in the van and taking them up to Wendy's for a frosty.

A few weeks ago we looked at Romans 10 and saw Paul's devotion to his people.  How he ached for his countrymen to come to know Jesus.  So much so that he admits he was willing to be left out in order to see them come in.  So the question was, there on the doorstep of the doughnut shop, how might you be able to bring good news to the people around you today?  And the sidewalk congregation gave some great answers...

• Love
• Show up
• Don't try to do something great, do simple acts of kindness
• Serve

"An act of kindness restores the soul" - Ron

Let's show up to love and serve today.

Randy Stonehill in Concert!

Sunday, May 5 at 7pm...

                               Randy Stonehill in concert!

New Hope Christian Fellowship

300 Trask Lane

Modesto, CA 95354

209-404-4027

Cost: ZIP! However, we will 

pass the hat to cover Randy's expenses

From Randy's official bio...

"Randy Stonehill (born March 12, 1952) is an American singer/songwriter from Stockton, California, best known as one of the so-called "fathers of contemporary Christian music." His music is primarily folk rock in the style of James Taylor, but he has assayed other styles, with various albums focused on new wave, pop rock, roots rock, and children's music. His live concerts, more so than most of his albums, have a strong comedic element in the manic vein of Robin Williams."

If you know me (Chris), you know that Randy's music is the reason I started to play the guitar and writing songs.  I was so happy and surprised when the last minute chance came to host one of my musical heroes in concert!  His concerts are intimate, acoustic, funny, challenging and interactive.  Join us!

To hear some of his music, visit: randystonehill.com

More Canadians in Modesto!

Just over a week ago, we hosted a team of leaders from Global Youth Volunteer Network, an international organization of students and others who seek education and connection with people involved in justice issues around the world.  Every year, we get a leadership training team from universities across Canada.  This year's team sought to understand our city and hear the voice of the homeless here.

Homemade cookies and coffee at the library

They had a beautiful, hospitable idea on a colder rainy day last week to bake oatmeal cookies, make coffee and take it to the library where many homeless people go to get out of the rain.  It was awesome to watch them spend time with the community, work with them to solve problems (we got kicked off of the actual library property) and create ways to learn from and share with them.  They put up 3 poster boards with questions for people to weigh in on.

Community is: sharing, helping each other, "it's always good for God to show that He loves us", connection/friendship, inclusive, everyone, "full of good people that need to not give up better our people...coming to make this place a better place to live.  To be in peace and live the right way, that's what God puts us here for", giving a hand to those you don't know yet.

What I would like to see in Modesto: Homelessness to end, nobody deserves it, more live music, "I'm pretty happy with my Modesto", less mannequins and more bikes (?!) and more Canadians, me(not), People with more things to do with their spare time so they have no time to think or do any bad, more prayer.

Faith is: Committing to something you believe is truth, whatever you want it to be, hope & love, love & peace, keeping on, tied to hospitality, Leaving it up to God to give you what you want because you love what you see and can't live without it.  It's too beautiful to leave, "I believe in God and also believe that people who feed people in need are people of God. So, from my heart, God bless everyone of you boyz and girls. That's what's up, from Jaime".

A few girls on this team helped one of the guys sign up for an email address at a job search organization.  We just received word that he got a call back from one of his applications and was scheduled for an orientation for a new job.  Friendship changes the world!

Making Lemonade for 9th Street

BBQ on 9th

Surprise YWAMers!

Last week, after a chance meeting of a newer youth worker in our city, I learned that there was a team in town from Youth with a Mission in Pichilemu, Chile.  They were here all last week!  Because YWAM works through relationships and not protocol, this team was here through a connection between the team leader and this youth pastor...they had no idea there was a YWAM Modesto (a thing I am getting used to - ha!).  So after a few phone calls, we had the great surprise of having a guest YWAM team at the 9th Street Cafe last Friday.  And they were a great group, doing all the things a good YWAM team does...

They came to serve the 9th street community with smiles, music and laughter.  And they spoke Spanish to cafe regulars that I am not able to talk to.

They supported people with prayer

They learned how to play dominoes from Arley (and he beat them badly)

They learned the important Modesto cultural lesson of Taco Trucks

They really, really enjoyed the important Modesto cultural lesson of Taco Trucks

And later that night, our family attended an outreach service they did in a West side ministry center, where they performed dramas and gave testimonies of God's work in their lives.

It was a nice surprise to have them with us an now they're off to do much of the same in San Diego and  on into Mexico before they head home.