A saturday at adopt-a-block

Saturdays are our adopt-a-block days. We have "adopted" the block around our church, where we knock on doors, and ask if they need any help around their house. We tote a large garbage container, shovels, rakes and garbage bags around and clean up the block. Every day is different. At first the neighbors didnt know what we were up to and were nervous to open their doors and talk with us. But now they know who we are and are expecting us and smile and talk with us, and allow us to help them. Today, we went up to a neighbors yard and her dogs were barking at us and she told them to be quiet "you know who they are", she told her dogs. Then she timidly asked us if their was anyplace we knew of that she could get food. She hurt herself at work and couldnt work for a few weeks. We told her that we had some food in our church pantry and we would be back with food after we finished cleaning up the block. I could tell it was very embarrassing for her to ask. As we were finishing the block, a lady loaded down with groceries was having trouble carrying them to her home which was pretty far from where we were. I told her to walk with me to the church so i could pick up my car and keys and i would drive her home. She was very happy, and we gave her the church card and dropped her off and said a prayer for her on the way home. We went back to the church and picked up what food we had left in the pantry and went to the neighbors house to give her the food. Me and melissa stayed in the car while scott and the boys gave her the food. Scott said she cried when they gave her the food. Thank you Jesus! Then melissa and i needed to pick up some things for the church's trunk or treat party. We needed to get on the highway but it was backed up, so we took a back road, as did everyone else who knew about this back road so it was backed up too. as we were in traffic going slowly down this very steep hill, we saw an older man and woman struggling with packages trying to walk up the hill. We could tell the woman was having a very hard time, because she stopped and steadied herself by hanging on to a fence on the side of the road. At the same time, me and melissa said "we should give them a ride" So, without hesitating, melissa jumped out of the car and called out to the man and woman who were now behind us walking in the opposite direction. They gratefully accepted our invitation for a ride, and jumped in the van. (Thank the Lord for a van!) And i turned the van around and drove them up the steep hill. We mentioned that we were from Bridgeway church. The husband asked if we had a website (we just put up our website a week ago!) He said his wife needed prayer because she had a mental disorder and was on medication, but they no longer have medical and cannot get the medication. We told him we would add her to our prayer wall and gave them a

church business card. As they hopped out of the van, he said they would call us. We drove away with a smile on our faces and a wonderful feeling in our hearts knowing that another "God Connection" was made!

Lots and Lots of people tell us that they will come to church, not too many of those do actually show up. All I know is that we are to help them, and trust that the Holy Spirit will work on their hearts...Great day today! God is good and faithful, and when we choose to feed the poor and help the needy then we are blessed with joy and peace!

Help us to stand!

We have been here for about 4 months. At first, it was exciting! We knew we were done where we had been and was excited to move on to our next "assignment". New city, new people, new (well old...) parsonage. Pretty exciting stuff...right? Our understanding of what we are up against is opening up! What we thought was a new exciting beginning, is far from that. We are beginning to see the "mentality" of the people here. Most, not all, of the people are takers not givers. They want you to give them food, clothing, money, washing machines. Yet, they want nothing to do with church or God! They come to the church on weekdays because they know they can get food or clothing, but you would never catch them at church during a service! Its like they dont want God, they just want free stuff they feel they are entitled to! AMAZING! They have no idea that its only because of God, that they are receiving food and clothing! Cause to be honest with you, I would not be here if Scott didnt KNOW that God sent him here for a reason! You can feel the darkness and hopelessness here!.... Lord, God, It feels soooo hopeless here! I know that we must stand on Your Word and have Faith. But it feels like Ive hit a wall and I cant even pray! Help me, Lord..please shine your light into this dark place! Teach us what to do, teach us how to help these people, teach us how to pray! Help us to understand why you have brought us here, and accomplish Your will in our lives!....I know all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose! And I thank You, God that our lives are in Your hands. Help us to stand...........

Hogan High Sunday

We are renting Hogan High school for our sunday morning services, one sunday a month until January 2010. Then we will have all of our sunday morning services their. Our building is very old and musty and the roof leaks, and is really small. We are acting on faith that God will fill that building. Its not easy! But God never promised us "easy". He did, however, promise that if we believe without wavering, we shall receive. So, thats what we are doing. And we know that God will honor our faith. We have no money, we have only a handful of people, we aren't successful or beautiful in the eyes of the world. But we do have Faith in our God who will do what He says He will do according to His Word. So we keep our eyes on the prize set before us which is eternity in Heaven with Jesus Christ and God the Father, and we keep traveling down the road He has given us to travel. Spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all He brings down our path, loving them and doing good to everyone in Jesus Name. Teaching, sharing, caring, loving, helping. Until one day we arrive safely at Home.

The Beginning...

My name is Rebecca Nalley. I am a Pastor's wife. My husband, Scott and I have been married 25 years and have been in Youth Ministry for all of our married life. That was an adventure in and of itself... 3 months ago, a very small church opened up and we put our name in for the senior pastorate. I wish I would've started my blog then, because the way we were voted in was an amazing story, but I will begin where I am now. I'm not sure who, if anyone, will ever read this, but I really feel like Im suppose to write of my adventures, ups and downs (There have already been many!) trials, and triumphs. I have always kept a small diary, but this blogging is sooo cool! The church was called "God's House" when we got here, we have since changed the name to "Bridgeway Church". The church now runs anywhere from 35-140 people. It is very different from the towns we have ever been in. We are used to small hometown places that feel safe. This town is the first in america to go bankrupt. Violence is everywhere. Since we have been here, there have been stabbings on the street where our church is, and 2 murders on the same street as our house is. It is also the first I have ever dealt with racism. When we first arrived, we heard a lady prophecy over our city that the "strongman" here was racism and poverty. I thought I knew what she was talking about..everyone has heard of racism. Until you are staring at it in the face, you have no idea!! We had an elderly gentleman come to our church that I fell in love with. He was a survior of the Port Chicago tradgedy during WWII. Who happened to be an African American. Scott also was drawn to this man and he asked him to go out to breakfast with him. After spending 4 hours with him, Scott came home and talked about the wonderful time he had with this man at breakfast. A week later, we received a long letter at the church from this man accusing Scott of being racist, amongst other things! We couldnt believe it!! We were speechless! Scott went over in his mind everything that was said, and he had no idea what he couldve said to make this man go away thinking this! After we read and reread this letter, it slowly dawned upon us that this was a spirtual attack! We had come face to face with spirit of racism! It really hurt us that this man would take an act of love and kindness and turn it into something ugly. It showed us that racism is real and doesnt just go away easily. This man, almost 90 years old, had spent a lifetime of being put down and discriminated against because of the color of his skin..why should we expect him to believe we loved him just because we say we do? We just have to keep loving him with the love of Jesus, until he is able to trust that we truly do love him! Yesterday Scott had a phone call from a 14 year old boy who attends our church. His mother had stabbed him in the arm with a butcher knife and threw all of his things out of the house. We are dealing with people who are ex-prisoners, recovering alchoholics, recovering drug addicts. I feel so unequipped to reach out to these people. I often wonder why God chose to place us here. You would think He would want someone who was "trained" to work with these people! And yet, He sent us here... I have no idea how this will end up, I just know that we are where God wants us to be, and we are in for a great adventure that will last the rest of our lives. I will be very open and honest with my thoughts and feelings. Please know that Pastors wifes are in no way perfect, or superior to anyone! We are just people just like you, trying to live a life of obedience to God. Not always succeeding, but when we fall, getting up, brushing ourselves off and continuing our walk with the Lord until He calls up to Our Heavenly home...Just like you! For I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me! Phillipians 4:13