I love the parable of The Wise and Foolish Builders in Luke 6:46-49.  It is about laying the foundation of your house on a rock so it will withstand the floods and not be shaken.  What a beautiful picture it is to put our faith into action by helping a family build a foundation (build a house).  To build a relationship with them so they may know The Rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ (build a safe haven).  To lead them into a growing relationship with Him to so they will not be shaken in times of trouble and their children and children’s children will know Him (build a heritage).   

Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County (www.habitathillsborough.com) is one of the newer members of Meet The Need.  Habitat Hillsborough connects with local churches and the community to fulfill their primary focus of “showing the love of God to families in Hillsborough County by giving them a hand up, not a hand out”.  They do this by building affordable housing for deserving families with the help of the community.

Visit www.habitathillsborough.com to see how you, your family, your small group, your church, your co-workers, etc. can put your faith into action as described in the parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders.  Take it beyond just building a home to building hope with a family and generations to come.  

Meet The Need (www.meettheneed.org) is thrilled to have Habitat Hillsborough a part of the family and from the comments below, so are they!

“Meet the Need is such a great organization! Since we partnered with them in November 2010 we have noticed an increase in the number of volunteer opportunities being filled.  MTN is also helping us reach out to area churches in order to build the strong relationships that are vital to the success of our mission.  Because MTN’s focus is on Christ and serving Him through serving others, our experiences with them have been nothing but positive.  The Meet the Need team is extremely customer-oriented and is quick to respond with needed solutions when we experience challenges.  Their technology team is amazing and has made the volunteer recruitment process much easier.  It is a blessing to work with them!”  – Community Relations Director of Habitat Hillsborough

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God infused all of us with a need and desire to serve, and nowhere is it more evident than at Shiloh Restoration Tabernacle Church. A brand new Meet the Need member, Shiloh’s motto is “Empowering People – Restoring Lives.” And it’s much more than a motto; Shiloh is a community leader when it comes to service, whether in large, very creative outreach events (like the one they recently completed in Valrico) or one-to-one connections. Shiloh is already great, Meet the Need will help them do even more; welcome to the Meet the Need family, Pastors O’Neil & Georgia, and Octoryia!

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In our house we have two boys (3 and 6 years old).  We constantly are saying”we are sharers” in efforts to bring peace between the two about a toy, a movie, a coloring book, a blanket, etc.  Today was a lesson not about sharing with our family, but being generous with those we don’t know. 

When I picked up the boys from school we went to their room and picked out stuffed animals we could give away to Lighthouse Ministries (www.lighthousemin.org ) for their Winter Wonderland.  I explained there are children who don’t have as much as they do and we have been blessed with abundance.  Therefore, we are to be “rich in good deeds and to be generous and willing to share” as commanded in God’s Word (1Timothy 6:18). 

My 3 year old didn’t embrace the giving, but my 6 year old really got it!  He gave away one of his favorite stuffed animals and we prayed over it that a little boy just like himself would have many good dreams and many happy hugs and smiles because of it.  I told him that this is best Birthday present we could give to Jesus this season . . . giving His love away.   We also prayed for Lighthouse Ministries and thanked God for the work they do all year round to provide for those less fortunate and bring the gospel of Christ to those who may have never known it.

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As technology shrinks the world, it’s easy for us to conduct business, connect with friends & discover new places nationally and internationally.  But technology can help us find things that we drive by every day, unaware of their existence.  Hope Children’s Home is such a place: ten minutes from where I live, but I never knew it was there.  And they have done AMAZING work with almost 5000 “discarded, abused, unwanted, or orphaned children,” giving them shelter, food, education, and hope.  I found them through Meet the Need, and now my family and I can help Hope Children’s Home in a variety of ways as they post needs.  What can YOU discover in YOUR neighborhood?

HINT:  Meet the Need will make it easy!

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Manna on Wheels (www.mannaonwheels.com) is a new ministry partner whose mission and vision caused me to stop and reflect on God’s word . . .

“God showed compassion to the people in the wilderness by sending manna.  He also showed compassion when He sent His only Son, Jesus, to bring us eternal life.  Manna on Wheels shares both the physical and the spiritual food with all who come. 

The focus of this ministry is and always will be God and God alone.  It is not about anything but reaching out in love as God did for us even before we were born.  God has given us a passion for those in need and we will follow Him as He leads.“

Thank you God for the manna you have sent to sustain me when I have been wandering in the desert.  May I follow Your lead to keep the manna for generations to come. (Exodus 16:32).  May I sow what I have received . . . compassion.

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Meet The Need is launching a partnership with the Luis Palau Association!  Wherever Palau Festivals are being held, Meet The Need will team up with Palau to mobilize the church community and others to get involved in Season of Service and the Festivals themselves.  Season of Service is the week prior to Palau Festivals where volunteers are mobilized to meet the physical needs in their community through strategic networks of local churches and business and civic leaders (http://www.seasonofservice.com/).

Of course, Meet The Need’s and Palau’s real heart goes beyond SOS and the Festivals.  Our partnership is truly designed to help Palau leave a lasting legacy of service and unity among the Body of Christ long after the Palau Festivals are over.  Using MTN, hundreds of churches and ministries will “join” the Meet The Need network.  And thousands of church members and other volunteers will sign up for SOS and the Festival in each city.   So by the time the Festivals are over, each city will be “connected” on a common “platform”, enabling them to work together to serve those in need for years after the Festivals.  From that point on, members of local churches all over the city will be able to search on their churches’ web sites for opportunities to serve local ministries and families any day, all year long.   The need never stops, so let’s make the “season of service” last forever!

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One of the most fun aspects of what we do at MTN is meeting new Pastors, and getting to know their church culture.  And each church brings unique qualities and abilities to help unite the Body of Christ.  Check out Crossroads Community UMC, a new member:  “We believe in passionate worship, through connecting with God and each other, growing in our faith, and serving locally and globally.”  Pastor Jeff Smith

And we LOVE helping people with serving hearts like Pastor Jeff and Crossroads Community maximize their impact in the community!

What can we do to help increase YOUR impact?

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