The Spirit-Filled Life of Faith

In our own efforts to live this life good enough, we will always fail.  When we admit our weakness, though, Christ can then become strong inside of us (2 Corinthians 12:10).  This is proven in Hebrews chapter 11 where we see the honor roll of God’s faithful men and women. People like Moses, David, and Rahab.  Wait a minute! Moses… the murderer and the man with a hot temper?  David… the liar, the adulterer? Rahab… the harlot? How can these be God’s finest?  Because they recognized in their own power, all they would ever be was a liar, a murderer, or a harlot.  In God, however, they were chosen, redeemed, and forgiven.

Someone once said, “The fact that the Scriptures are brim full of hustlers, murderers, cowards, adulterers, and mercenaries used to shock me.  Now it is a source of great comfort.” 

You may look in the mirror and see a sinner, a failure, a promise-breaker.  But by faith, look in the mirror and see yourself as Christ sees you:

Col 3:3 – Hidden with Christ;

Col 1:4-- A forgiven child;

Col 1:22 – Holy and blameless;

Col 2: 10 – COMPLETE in Christ.

Whew, what a relief!  Now, we can rest (Matthew 11:28) and enjoy (John 10:10) this spirit-filled life of faith in Christ.

Theresa Allen

Women’s Ministry Director

Spreading the news....

When we have an opportunity to be in a local church on Sundays, it is a special privilege.  Most of the time it’s to share updates with the congregation on what their financial support is doing.

Sunday, March 20, 2011 we were doubly blessed by being in two of our local supporting churches in one day.  First we were able to share in the early service at Christ Reformed Church of the Carolinas.  Pastor Alex Campbell and Christ Reformed are great people and friends of the ministry.  Later that same morning we participated in a Haven of Rest Day at the 11 am hour with Barker’s Creek Baptist in Honea Path.  Pastor Wesley Taylor and the Barkers Creek folks made us feel welcome as always, having encouraged us by their support through the years.

If anyone knows of a church who would like to have a Haven speaker, choir, and testimonies for any service, we would love to schedule one in the near future.

Every first Friday we invite you to join us at the Men’s Training Center, 1106 North Major Rd., Belton, SC.  We have a meal beginning at 6:30 pm, testimonies, and choir.  An area pastor shares from the Word of God.  This is a great opportunity to come and find out a little more of how the ministry you support or have heard about operates.  Each month several men will be progressing from one phase to another, usually with the sending off of one of our men who has finished the one year program at the Men’s Training Center.  Come and join us as we challenge and encourage these men to go on with Christ.

Eddie Capps, Men’s Training Center Director

Paper, paper, everywhere!!

The other side of ministry is the record keeping that is required.  Due to various tax laws and recommendations by our auditors, we have a tremendous amount of paper files that we keep – some for 7 years or even forever!  We recently purchased a document scanner that is connected to our computer system and backed up every night.  We are in need of volunteers who could come for a few hours every week to help in scanning our documents into our computer system.  It wouldn’t take a lot of concentration, just attention to see that the machine worked properly and that the correct name is attached to the file.  If you would be interested in more information about possibly serving in this area, please call 226-6193 and ask for Sharon Brown at ext. 106 or Nan Stephens at ext. 107.  Our goal is to retrieve information efficiently while decreasing the number of filing cabinets that are currently taking up precious space in our offices.  Thanks for your interest and prayers for our ministry. 

Sharon Brown, Financial Director 

Good News

God is blessing the ladies in Phase II.  To date, Jackie has gotten a full-time job, and Jade has begun classes at the Adult Education Center to earn her GED.  Please continue to keep these ladies in your prayers as God faithfully works through them to reach others and to bring glory to His name.

Why we are here

A man once said to me, “Do you really need a place here in America to help men get off drugs?”  I had to step back a minute to see if he was just kidding.  Sad to say he was not.  This question of need hits me every day that I work here.  Just the other morning while we were going through a testimony class, I heard story after story of broken young lives crying out for help.  Who will help them?  Almost every family involved with these young men had said, “Don’t come back; we cannot help you any more.”  So here they are, broken and hurting.  This is just how God wants them.  He is willing to look at their sin and to pour His love and grace into their pain.  At the Haven of Rest this is why we are here, and yes, we need to be here.  I would think almost everyone out there has had some part of their lives impacted by some life-controlling substance.   We are here to help.  Do keep praying for our Lord’s hand to be on this place.  God Bless!

Gene Christian

Industry Coordinator

Are you stressed?

Everyone struggles with stress at one time or another.  These are some verses that help me when I feel overwhelmed or under stress.  I hope they will help you too.

“Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”  1 Peter 5:7

“I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from whence shall my help come?  My help comes from the LORD who made heaven and earth.  He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.  Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand.  The sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night.  The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul.  The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.”  Psalm 121:1-8

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.”  Philippians 4:6-7

Sandra Vickery
Administrative Assistant

Ways You Can Be Involved

Hello everyone, my name is Heather James Mabe and I am the Development Coordinator for the Haven of Rest Ministries.  I would like to take just a moment to share with you a few of the ways YOU can become involved here at the Haven and by doing so, how you will be helping to change someone’s life.

Ways to get involved-

• Make a one time, a monthly, or an annual gift donation.
• Donate items to our thrift stores.
• Become a prayer partner.
• Volunteer your time and talents.
• Bring your Missions group, Sunday school class, youth group, family, or friends to the Haven for a tour.

What it will mean when YOU get involved-

• One more person will have something to eat, somewhere to sleep, a shower, clothes to wear; they will be taught truth, and be shown love.
• All items donated to our stores are used for our clients, people in need, or sold to raise money that is used to fund the ministry which is working to change lives from the inside out.
• PRAYER is something we ALL need and is the most powerful gift we have.
• When you volunteer, you receive even more of a blessing than you realize.  You show how much you care when you give of yourself.
• By bringing a group by to take a tour, you are opening a door of awareness to others.  So many people have no clue who we are or what we do.  You can help others to see with their own eyes that the Haven of Rest Ministries is so much more than a soup kitchen or homeless shelter.  Together we are saving lives every single day!

I would like to challenge each of you to become more aware of what is taking place within the doors of the Haven, share what you learn with others, establish a plan on what you are going to do to get involved, and then DO IT!!  I promise that you will receive one of the greatest blessings in life by what you do for others.  Thank you so much!