We Need Help

[Walter Thompson]

I realize that this will be buried in short order by so many posts, but if I can, I would like to ask for some help. As many of you know we (our church) has been constructing a new building. We have been meeting in another church (none Nazarene) for about 18 months now. We have lost over half of our congregation due to afternoon services, the hurricane and attrition of military personell moving. 18 months ago we were averaging about 125-150. Now we are only averaging about 40 or so. Our people have been trying to rebuild their own homes and we are tired. We have not had any work and witness teams come to our church, except one from Ohio about a month ago in the last 6-8 months.
Our finances are are depleted. We need to raise about 75,000 to finish the building to the point we can get occupancy. If we had some hlep and the materials we could easily be in the building by the end of Oct or the beginning of Nov. That's how close we are.
The church we are meeting in is trying to sell their property as well. They have not asked us to move but it is only a matter of time. They have never asked or accepted any money from us for the use of their facilities.
So this is what I am asking.
First, we need some people to help finish the building.
Second, we need some finances.
We need some true Work and Witness teams to come and help us, it can be done through headquarters through NDR. But I am fearful that if we don't make this transition quickly we will loose the body of Christ as many are drifting away now. With a little help and some additional monies we can finish this building and begin doing the ministry God has called us to.
The people are giving all they can now, we have borrowed all the monies we are allowed to borrow by manual and that we can afford. So now we have to rely on others.
Pleae pray with me over this matter, and maybe talk to your pastors, and ask them if there isn't something thta your church could do to help us.
I really didn't want to come and ask for this here, but I don't know where else we can go. We have not bee successful in getting much local help from teams coming down to the coast, so here is my plea.

Thanks

Walt THompson
Pastor,
Gulfport First Church

[Regena Torres]

Walt. I will be praying and also asking our church to pray.
We are a small congregation but surely there is something we can do. I will ask my husband

[Marsha Gupton]

Walt, we will be praying.

[Donna Adams]

Walt, we too are a small congregation, but we will pray and ask God to direct us on how to best help your church.
God WILL make a way!

[Ann Smith]

Walt,
Please post your address.
Ann Smith

[Walter Thompson]

The church address is:
107 Darran St
Gulfport, MS 39503

This is a temporary address. When we get mail service at the new building I will post it as well.

[Virginia Stimer]

Walt,

I posted on the other forum but will add here as well. I have sent a copy of your letter to our District Superintendent, Steve Anthony. I thought our district had adopted your church after the hurricane. I hope Dr. Anthony can find some help for you.

God bless.

Virginia

[Anne and Dwayne Hood]

Walt, I sent your post to the Tennessee District office. Dwayne and I will be praying.
Anne Hood

[Paul Whitaker]

I sent a copy of your email to our pastors at Bethany First.
Praying for you.

[Peter Teolis]

Walt, I copied the Canada Central Distict DS and the Men's Retreat Committee. They meet this weekend. I have asked on your behalf for some assistance.

God Be with you and your people

Blessings

[Marsha Lynn]

Walt, I think this is a wonderful use for NazNet. You have a need; others have resources and are interested in helping those in need. What better way to get the resources together with the need?

Marsha

[Walter Thompson]

thanks to all who are responding both on here and privately. Prayerfully God will help. Also, it has been brought to my attention that another group had been to the church in May froom Kankakee Eastridge (Ann Smith's Church). I had forgotten about it and then when reminded couldn't figure out how to edit the first post. There was another group from Ft. Madison, Iowa that also came. There may have been another church I am forgetting, my mind is not what it used to be.

[Terri Knoll]

Walt, I think this is a wonderful use for NazNet. You have a need; others have resources and are interested in helping those in need. What better way to get the resources together with the need?

Marsha

I totally agree!

[Terri Knoll]

Walt it's good to "see" you.
is there any FEMA monies available to you? Have ya'll checked that out? I know you can have all the money in the world but without bodies, the work doesn't get done.
Wonderful idea to get Naznet involved! I believe the word gets spread on a more personal level. I too have passed your info on.
Remember when I came to MS? I just wanted to let you know that trips continue to be made and alot of the little towns have opened all resources to the W&W teams. I am sorry that we probably won't make it down your way, but prayers continue.

((((hugs))))

[Walter Thompson]

Thanks Terri,
I have not looked into FEMA monies. Don't even know where to stand, but my understanding is such that there isn't anything there for our church but I will try to find out if there is.
Thanks again,

Walt

[Paul Whitaker]

There are some pastors of very large churches who read NazNet. Let's pray that the Lord will stir their hearts and the hearts of their people to help in this situation.

So often, the people of the church don't hear about these needs. The pastor is the one who knows. He needs to pass on this info to the people expecting their hearts to be turned to this need.

[Walter Thompson]

Thansk for your words of encouragement. I do so hope that some of the pastors that are reading, as some have, take it to their congregations. Thanks for your post.

[Mark Bolerjack]

How about a NazNet Work and Witness Team???

[Gary Swartzlander]

Walt, our staff is talking with the district work and witness coordinator also, and we'll see what can be done to send some help your way. Some of our people have been to New Orleans, I suspect some would be willing to come to your area to help.

[Walter Thompson]

Thanks Gary. I am overwhelmed at the response of this post. I knew NazNet was a very caring community, especially after last year with Debbie's death and then the hurricane, but I continue to be impressed by the love and the outreach of this community.
Thanks you all, both those who have posted and those who havve e-mailed me directly. Thanks!

[Walter Thompson]

I have been getting reports of individuals that have seen the post and have said favorable comments to others about the post. Thanks to all of you who are trying to help us in this endeavor. Some very positive things are happening and I will post about them as they come to fruition.

[Walter Thompson]

It seems that I have been remiss to thank some of the people that have come down to Gulfport to help. The 6-8 onth time span was a bit too long. It was about 6 months. We did receive some help from the East Michigan District as they sent several teams dow to help our church and work on some of the homes in our church as I had earlier posted. Also the General Church has helped tremendously with finances. They have given our church most of our money that we needed to build the church over what we had already invested. However we are a little bit short becaues prices have gone through the roof since Katrina and that is the primary reason we are short on finances now.
I did not mean to offend anyone, or slight anyone with presenting our plea to this board. I just wanted to present a need. I knew there would be some response and some people that want to become involved with our church, and there has been, to which I am very grateful for the gifts that have come in and the offers of physical help.
So if I have offended anyone, please accept my apologies.

Walt

[Charles G. Brown]

Walt, if we could get 500 churches to send $75.00 and 500 Individuals to send $75.00 we could reach your goal of $75,000.00. Are there that many churches and individuals connected to Naznet.com and beyond. Of course there are. Let's do it folks. Let's card shower this church with expressions of love and support.

[Charles G. Brown]

My checked was mailed this morning, Sept. 25th, 2006

[Walter Thompson]

Thanks Charlie. Actually we only need $60,000. We have been able to get some refunds on materials we bought but will not be using. But thanks for your help.
We have recieved a couple of checks already and we thank all who are becoming a part of the Gulfport Church.
We were also given a complete portable stage, picking it up tomorrow, it is only two years old, also today the Navy Retirement home is donating a lot of wall cabinets, chairs, tables, lights, electrical recepticles, bulletin boards, and other items to us. We will be tagging them tomorrow too.
Those items were going to have to be bought out of the $60,000, or we would have to wait until we had the money after we had occupancy.
So God is doing a great thing here in Gulfport since I have first posted. Our church has been looking at Psalm 37 3-6 for the last three weeks. In particular verse 4b. "He will give you the desires of your heart." The question has been posed to them is this: What is the desire of your heart concerning the Gulfport Church and are you willing to follow the scriptural instructions? Amazing things are starting to happen and the people are growing in their faith.
So thank you all for your part, whether in prayer, words of encouragement or acts of support.

Thank you very much!

Abrigado muite muite

[Terri Knoll]

Thanks Charlie. Actually we only need $60,000. We have been able to get some refunds on materials we bought but will not be using. But thanks for your help.
We have recieved a couple of checks already and we thank all who are becoming a part of the Gulfport Church.
We were also given a complete portable stage, picking it up tomorrow, it is only two years old, also today the Navy Retirement home is donating a lot of wall cabinets, chairs, tables, lights, electrical recepticles, bulletin boards, and other items to us. We will be tagging them tomorrow too.
Those items were going to have to be bought out of the $60,000, or we would have to wait until we had the money after we had occupancy.
So God is doing a great thing here in Gulfport since I have first posted. Our church has been looking at Psalm 37 3-6 for the last three weeks. In particular verse 4b. "He will give you the desires of your heart." The question has been posed to them is this: What is the desire of your heart concerning the Gulfport Church and are you willing to follow the scriptural instructions? Amazing things are starting to happen and the people are growing in their faith.
So thank you all for your part, whether in prayer, words of encouragement or acts of support.

Thank you very much!

Abrigado muite muite


It's so good to "hear" the hope you have. Praise God! Prayers and (((hugs))) continue here.

[Walter Thompson]

We have received some checks already because of this plea. Thank you all who have sent monies to the church. I have been asked to repost the address so here it is:

Gulfport First Church
of the Nazarene
107 Darran St.
Gulfport, MS 39503


Thanks again for your prayers and support.


Walt