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I thought it would be a good idea for Bobby and I to keep a journal of the opportunities we have to help people in need because of the giving of our SoulHaven community since most people aren't able to be there for the day-to-day encounters we have with people.  Then I thought, we should just open this up to everyone at SoulHaven and create a space for everyone to share stories of what God has been doing through us.  That is the purpose of this forum.  

What this is not:  
A place to brag about how spiritual you are.  
A place to critique what others are doing.  
A place to plan events or make announcements (there are other places for that)  

What this is:  
A place to share what God is doing through you, others, and SoulHaven.  
A place to encourage one another by showing simple ways to reach out to others and be Good News to them.  
A place to celebrate victories.  
A place to journal "God moments" so we don't forget his faithfulness to us.  

So go ahead and add your story to this post.  We want to know what God has been doing through our SoulHaven family.  

Love in Christ,
Todd Frenier

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Just wanted to share that God blessed us today with an opportunity to reach out to Jeffery whom we met last night. After speaking with him we found out that he would love to have a radio where he could listen to some music or the weather. He also told us that he hangs out Ingles during the day trying to find work, so we took a chance and drove by and sure enough there he sat. As we drove into the parking space we went by him, I waved and his sweet face lit up
I walked up to and told him that we had a surprise for him..... I then revealed the radio and he was so grateful. After that we asked if he had eaten anything today and he said he had not so we invited him to lunch and shared a meal.
It was more than I could have hoped for.

Not only did we get to spend time with Jeffery but we got to meet another person without a home named Yankee. He was pleasant with us but kind of held back a little. Jefferey said he would speak to him and try to find out what his needs are so we can be blessed with helping him too!

Serving Gods children, no matter their age or circumstance, was so fulfilling and I look forward to building a stronger relationship with Jeffery
In him always,
Kim B

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About a week or so ago Bobby and I were standing in the Good Neighbor Shelter parking lot talking after the census training when a guy walked up and said he needed some money because he was trying to get to Chattanooga.  We talked to him briefly but said we couldn't give him money (mostly because that's the story that tons of people give when they're trying to run a scam).  So he walked off but then came back just a few minutes later and gave us the full story.  

His name was Eddy, and he really did live in Chattanooga (he showed us his ID).  He came down to live with his ex wife but she threw him out with only the clothes on his back and no way to get back home.  He had a friend that was willing to drive him to Chattanooga if he could pay for the gas, so Eddy was wandering the streets looking for help.  He hadn't eaten in a while and looked like he hadn't showered or changed clothes in a while either.  He had already been turned down by several people that he had asked for help (including us) but he said he just felt like he should go back and talk to us again for some reason (he didn't know why but I told him later that it was because God was talking to him).  

We decided this was a legitimate need and God was wanting us to help so we took Eddy to McDonald's and told him to order as much as he wanted.  He got 5 double cheeseburgers, but he couldn't eat much because he was hungry for so long that it was hard to eat much.  Then we took him to Target for a new outfit (he changed in the Target bathroom) and Kroger for a gas card.  The whole time Eddy was so happy and kept saying, "Ya'll hooked me up".  I don't think he had felt that good in a while.  

But God wasn't done because as we were about to get into the car, an elderly lady named Sylba came up and asked if we had $6 for a taxi.  It turned out she worked part time at Krystal and had to figure out how to get home to her extended stay hotel on Hwy. 20 each day.  I decided to give Sylba a ride home and Bobby took Eddy to his friend's house who then took him to Chattanooga.  

Absolutely none of that was possible without the giving of our SoulHaven family.  It's because of your offerings that we were able to help Eddy that day.  I don't know if we'll ever see Eddy again (hopefully in Heaven), but that day we made sure he knew that God had blessed him in a big way.  You were a part of that blessing if you have supported SoulHaven with your offerings, so praise God for what he can do through you!  

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I have wondered many times what God might be wanting to teach me (besides patience) as I wait on his timing for a job.  Apparently he had a lot to teach me through our friend Jeff about God's provision and faithfulness, as well as the kind of love I should have for Jesus as I put it into action with people who are in need.  

Anyway, I bought some of the black cherry juice that Katie Bridges mentioned to help with Jeff's gout and a new book for him to read since he was almost finished with the one he had.  I went with Mandy and the kids to his tent and gave them to him.  He was very appreciative, especially for the juice because he knew how costly it was and teared up a little when he saw it.  

I asked if he had anything to eat for dinner, and he didn't so I invited him to come eat with us.  He said he didn't want to impose since I had my family with me, but I said we'd love to have company.  A look of disbelief came over his face as he said, "You would want me to be company?"  We said sure and his face lit up as he excitedly got ready to go.  

We had a nice meal at Pizza Hut and Jeff told us his life story.  Our young waitress was taking a long time to get us our check at the end of the meal so I went up to the front counter and asked for it.  She said, "Your check has been taken care of."  I was a little stunned and when she repeated what she said, all I could say was, "Thank you...or thanks to whoever paid for our meal."  She was fighting back the tears so I kinda suspect she paid for it herself.  The whole night was just a huge confirmation from God that this is how we are supposed to love people.  Not as a service project or something religious to check off our "to do" lists; just making someone in need feel loved and accepted and valued. It's not complicated, and it's something all of us can do with the people around us, whether their need is physical, emotional, spiritual, or they just need a friend.  

I think we may see Jeff at our SoulHaven gathering Sunday, as well as a few others thanks to Kim.  The love of God has been changing lives this week, including mine.  

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I've not been reaching out to the homeless but I do give folks a ride that are "hitch" hiking but with precautions. There's two people I've given a ride to for a couple of years so when I see them looking for a ride, I gladly approach them. Another mission I've been working with is the clothing drive at Grace Baptist Church; I go there frequently help "shelf", fold, and hang clothes then twice a month help distribute donated clothes. I've met so many people with spiritual needs as well as clothing needs. By meeting a person's physical need, it is easier to reah their heart and share the gospel with them. Looking forward to this week to inviting a non Christian to have a meal. That's what it's all about-sharing Christ with everyone!

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It was good to hear everyone's stories about how they shared a meal with someone who didn't know Christ last week.  Just wanted to post Mandy's and my simple attempt to reach out and build a relationship with some neighbors we've begun to know.  Nothing fancy, just an impromptu invite to roast hot dogs and smores over our portable fire pit in the driveway.  I think sometimes we make discipleship more complicated than it is.  Just like Levi, it all starts by intentionally building a friendship.  Hopefully I can learn to make this a weekly habit.  

Maybe Diana will post about her meal at the campground.  

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So many good things to say about our day with the Flowering Branch kids, but I just wanted to mention one.  I'm not a big hugger (in case you hadn't noticed), but at the end, when we were saying good-bye to all the kids, one of the boys (Timothy) wrapped his arms around me and gave me a big hug I wasn't expecting.  I usually don't think too much about hugs, but that one made an impression on me.  

It was great to meet the girl Edie is mentoring.  Maybe she'll post something about that relationship (trying to give people hints here).

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Haven't posted here in a while, but just want to keep a journal of some things that have been happening in the SoulHaven family so I don't forget.  Hopefully others will add what I have forgotten.  

We've really begun to extend our outreach to some of the homeless in Cartersville.  Many of us have begun building friendships with Jeff, Bill, Yankee, Will, Patrick, Billy, and others.  Several have begun attending church and we've had opportunities to share Christ with them, pray with them, meet needs, and have Bible studies.  

Our first baptisms are a great story I hope Bobby will expound upon.  JC and Ben were friends of Bobby and we were able to help them out recently.  As a result, JC, Steven, and Angel began attending our Missional Community and JC wanted to accept Christ.  Ben hadn't been baptized yet, so he had Bobby baptize him too.  Lots of answered prayers and blessings from God here.  

We had a great Easter too as we worshipped with Expedition Church and then served at the Good Neighbor shelter, cleaning a lot, sorting, organizing, and cleaning out their clothing shed, and building some shelving and clothing racks there.  The kids got to do an Easter egg hunt there too.

God is doing some pretty amazing things, and at times I have to just sit back and wonder why God allows me to be a part of it.