Daughters of Naomi & Hope Ministries

 

                                           Local Shelter Downtown South Bend

Knowing what it feels like to be without a home of your own or even a bed that you can sleep on, my heart goes out to the women that find themselves in these situations. Even a day without a proper place to live can be degrading. But if you are in a dangerous situation and need to get out, it can be liberating. Either way, women need to know their worth. A fellow minister friend, Pastor Christine Jacobs had an idea to take them personal size hand-held mirrors that are "bejeweled" and tell them what they mean to God. So I was inspired! We are making this our weekly meeting

It happened that free quality makeup was given to us by another ministry holding a women's event that we participated in April. Little did I know at that point, that we would have a great use for the gift. God knew from the beginning who would benefit and what He had in mind . . . 

Never do I doubt the leading of the Spirit of God! Even though these things may seem like a small gesture, I believe it's going to be a big blessing to some of the women. As a founder of a women's ministry, I firmly believe women who are confident are successful and know who they are so that no one can make them feel less. Our mission is to help empower women by teaching them and that's what we will continue. 

Women's Fair Saturday, April 29th 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Ministering to the Body

As Evangelists, our focus has been to minister to the unsaved . . . as of late there has been a shift of ministering to the body. How many people in church are confused, bound & hopeless? You would think none or not many. Our experience is there are more than you can imagine. Marriages in turmoil, Leadership with skewed biblical views, women in pain, men tormented and hurting families. Why? Why do we as children of the Most High God allow the enemy of our souls to take control??

Going through personal struggles of our own, health, family issues, etc. we understand how the flesh can rare its ugly head and try to dominate. The Word of God said our faith would be tested, tried and that in this world we would suffer persecution. Taking a stand of faith should not be a point of contention within the body. We should be standing with each other as we encourage our brother and sister to keep pressing on, not pushing them to the brink. In the course of the fifteen years of our marriage and ministry we have counseled couples, performed marriage ceremonies, funeral services, preached sermons and done endless outreach. Through all of those works, the important factor was the people, members of the body.

Currently the ministry God has called my wife to has given us a clear view of what and what is not happening in the body of Christ. In our local fellowship, there are classes, groups, every possible way to reach people. There is a factor though that can prevent these programs from working - people not engaging. Help can be available, but not work if people don't ask or use it. How do you get someone to reach out for help when they need it? Embarrassment, pride, or just plain ignorance, can prevent people from reaching out. So they go on, depressed, defeated & alone . . . it doesn't have to be that way. Jesus said, " . . . I have come that they might have life, and life more abundantly" John 10:10

Having a Mentoring & Support Group as well as continuing to counsel those in every situation, has led us to the reality that some relationships can mend and others will not. We teach authority over the enemy, speaking & praying the Word, as well as putting trust in God. The only hope for deliverance and freedom in Christ is to surrender and allow Him to lead & guide your life. That means confessing your sin, getting godly counseling, being accountable and finding your strength in Him.

Daughters Of Naomi Embraced (D.O.N.E.)

Women's Ministry Home . . . a vision from the Lord to assist women in need.

Daughters of Naomi

The book of Ruth in the Bible is one of, if not the most favorite of mine. When the Lord spoke to my husband and me about starting a ministry home for unwed homeless women, this immediately came to my mind. I shared the vision of the following: When it seemed that their circumstances could not be more devastating, two impoverished and desolate women found themselves to be the objects of God’s sovereign care. The book of Ruth highlights sacrificial love within human relationships. But the greatest display of selfless love is the foreshadowing of the coming of Jesus Christ.

You may or may not be familiar with this passage from Ruth Chapter 1 -

Naomi Loses Her Husband and Sons

1In the days when the judges ruled,^a there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. 2The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.

3Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, 5both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.

Naomi and Ruth Return to Bethlehem

6When Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. 7With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah.

8Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. 9May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.”

Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud 10and said to her, “We will go back with you to your people.”

11But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? 12Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— 13would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord’s hand has turned against me!”

14At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.

15“Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.”

16But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” 18When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.

This is one of the most beautiful love stories just in the first chapter. Not to mention when Ruth meets, is redeemed by Boaz and marries him. Who happens to produce with her the lineage of King David and our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

For me growing up my mother was my role model, Bible teacher, trainer in life, evangelism & being a lady. I clung to her as the one I would receive from love, knowledge & wisdom. She was my life until I lost her on September 7^th, 2011. It was the hardest day of my life. I can remember it so vividly, as she was only 58 years young, thinking it was not time for her to go yet and what would I do without her?

The ways of God are without question, but not without understanding . . . his ways are perfect, his plans are perfect. Ps.18:30, Luke 24:45, Ps. 32:8

God knew my future, just as he knew the daughters of Naomi’s future. One of the most difficult thing to do in our human mind is to trust God with our life.  Prov. 3:5

When I met my Boaz (my husband) I was in my deepest of despair. At that time I didn’t know how I would keep going or what my purpose was (although God had spoken it to me through a pastor in Florida twelve year previously) in life. God knew I needed direction . . . and motivation.

One thing my husband is and that’s motivational! The thing we had most in common was our love for the Lord and serving others. He made me laugh and encouraged me as I grieved and tried to get through the tragedy of losing the one person in my life that gave me stability. Getting thrown into ministry before we even married was the most surprising to me.

At that time my husband was Vice President of a local Gideon’s organization in South Bend, Indiana. I knew very little about the organization (even that it was one) and certainly had no idea women were involved in the ministry. When we went out one evening, my understanding was to a friend’s house, we ended up separating into different rooms. I was taken off guard and didn’t know if we were in an amish home or a cult!

Finally as the women accepted me into their auxiliary, defined in the dictionary as additional, giving support; serving as an aid; helpful, I was asked to join (once we were married) and serve in a position. After we were married, prayed over by elders of our church and served for several years as Scripture Secretary for The Gideon’s International. Going to meetings, coordinating passing out testaments by contacting doctors, dentists & colleges and speaking in churches on behalf of the organization was fulfilling. But there was a call of God that had not been realized in my life.

My husband also felt this call . . . to minister the Word fully, without restriction and evangelize our area for Jesus Christ. We were ordained through World Harvest Minister’s network and began in ministry under Pastor’s Glenn and Sue Davis. For less than a year we worked with them in ministry until they left the church and we left with them. At that time we traveled, had a band and ministered to pastors across several states.

Pastors Glenn & Sue Davis

God brought us divine connections and we networked with many pastors and churches holding conferences and outreach concerts. There was always another part of ministry that was left undone. It was the lost on the street, so we partnered with another outreach ministry, Lifeline, Steve & Jodi Ignowski, now 180 Outreach Ministries. Those six years were very fruitful. We saw change in people’s lives. Dramatic change.

In the last few years we have branched out on our own, partnering with friends from other churches to reach our community and seen great results from our labor together. The most important aspect of ministry to the souls that come to know the Lord, surrender their lives to Him and accept him as their personal savior. Leading people to Christ is every believer’s calling, to be ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18). Through the years, we have intercepted lives headed to hell and rescued them from the pit. There’s a couple of ladies who we took into live with us that were in need and became like daughters to us.

In 1998 when my husband came to know the Lord, he received a vision of a center for street people to house them, teach, train & help them become more productive members of society. When we met, he was leading cell groups outside of the church, serving in the church and believing for the vision to come to pass. After we were married, one day, he was at home and like a good builder, took a 2 X 4 and began to draw. This was no ordinary sketch of a contracting project. The Lord showed him what the center was to be designed like.

The outside perimeter is the shape of a diamond, the interior shape – the cross. There’s a message there for a later time . . . this is to be the Center of Faith, Hope & Love.

In the meantime, God has done so many marvelous things. We remain faithful, as He is much more faithful. So we are looking at starting with a home, for women, on the street – homeless. Realizing this vision will be the start of much greater things to come. We are prayerfully seeking on how to accomplish this and believing God to supply.

Jail Ministry

Jail Minstry at the local county jail

We took the gospel in to the women of the St. Joseph County Jail

The women there were hungry for the Word and we were able to pray for many of them.

Resurrection Dinner Outreach

This Easter we celebrated family . . . the community that we serve through our Food Pantry at Christian Center Church

John 15:13 " Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

We were blessed to have hams, chicken, potatoes, vegetables, soup & dessert donated!
There were also many who volunteered from
various churches that put this together.

The families that come to the pantry were asked to reach out and invite other families in need to the dinner. Making disciples . . . what the ultimate goal of outreach, teaching others to carry on the mission.

Blessed to be a blessing, what we have been empowered to do - teach others! 

We had an awesome speaker, Pastor Mindy Klahr from New Creation Fellowship. She and her husband, Pastor Arnie Klahr serve in ministry together in Granger, Indiana. As Pastor Mindy shared on "Being Mindful of the Father's Love" I reflected on those that have not experience the love of an earthly father, to which I can relate.
My husband grew up on a farm with both parents, working alongside them as a child. I couldn't relate to that, although my grandmother (my mother's mother) grew up on a farm as well. My mother tried being both mother and father (a difficult task at least). Anyone who knows raising children can be a big job for two parents . . . loving parents or a loving parent can give their life to raise their children, but can't give their life to save them.
No person on earth could do that for any of us, so God sent his son, Jesus. How great a love to sacrifice His only son. We celebrate not only that Jesus died, but conquered hell, death & the grave and was resurrected on the third day!

This season we pray that you experience the love of God in what His son did for you. Below is the video of Pastor Mindy's message - 

Daughters of Naomi Embraced (D.O.N.E.)

Proposed property for the Daughter's Of Naomi Women's Home

South Bend, Indiana 

We are looking to raise funds to support the women who would come to the maternity home in need. They will be from different places, stages of life, but will all be offered shelter. The funds are needed to renovate and set up the home to accommodate at least five women and possibly their children. As soon as we are able to raise enough money to start the maternity home we will move forward on pursuing opening it up to women in need.
 My background has been helping homeless, women in need and mentoring young women. The ministry my husband and I began in 2003, Visions Of Praise Ministries has helped thousands of people who didn't have food, clothing or purpose in their lives. Taking young women into our personal home and giving them a chance to start over has leaded us to want to help more. Having a maternity home to help more women and give them a safe haven will be the best means to teach, train and assist them with their new lives.
Dealing with drug addiction, sexual addiction and spiritual issues has been a mission field through outreach to our city. Having a counselor on staff at our church would give them a chance at restoration with their life, family & God. As a minister, I am driven to see women set free from the bondages that drag them down. We will be able to take lives that could be lost and turn them back on the right path. There is no greater reward than that!

Local shelters serve hundreds a day in our city including women & children. Our goal is to see women and their children be able to start a new life without compromising and living a productive healthy life. Treating the cause of this epidemic can be handled in different way depending on the circumstances.Homelessness is, in fact, caused by tragic life occurrences like the loss of loved ones, job loss, domestic violence, divorce and family disputes. Other impairments such as depression, untreated mental illness, post traumatic stress disorder, and physical disabilities are also responsible for a large portion of the homeless. Many factors push people into living on the street. Acknowledging these can help facilitate the end of homelessness in America. For those living in poverty or close to the poverty line, an "everyday" life issue that may be that may be manageable for individuals with a higher income can be the final factor in placing them on the street. A broken down vehicle, a lack of vehicle insurance, or even unpaid tickets might be just enough to render someone homeless. Divorce costs and the associated lowering of a family's total income can cause one or more family members to become homeless. For families that can hardly pay their bills, a serious illness or disabling accident may deplete their funds and push them out onto the street. Most young women find themselves pregnant & alone . . . where do they go? Some have a child already, no one wants them . . . or those that will take them in only use, abuse & leave them worse off than they started. Others just got involved with the wrong people, got in trouble and need directions.We are here for them. 
To house at least five women (and their babies) we are looking at raising the funds to purchase and remodel at least a three bedroom, two bath ranch style home. We also are holding mentoring sessions for women beginning next month, called Sisters Of Strength. This will give women who have no one to go to who need wisdom on decision making, managing money, and taking care of their children. Also we have resources to help find jobs, interview & creating a resume. These services will be available to women who are incarcerated entering back into society as well as women on the street.

We have a Gofundme page set up to help raise funds. You may donate by going to:  https://www.gofundme.com/womensministryhome or mail a check to Visions Of Praise Ministries, P.O. Box 604 South Bend, IN 46624