A Good News Story
Story #4
Save-A-Lot
Last Tuesday our youth group was in need of general supplies and food for the evening meal. Money was tight so I went to our local discount store, Save-A-Lot because there you can buy in large quantities. I knew that with it being the end of the month and spring vacation we were going to have a big crowd.
In front of the store were seven homeless gentleman; one which approached me and boldly said: “Why are you wearing that weird shirt (I was in clerics): are you a servant of God.” I said: “Well yes I am but I think we can all be God’s servants; so I believe you are also God’s servant too.” This group of gentleman asked if they could help load my car with groceries and then we stood speaking about faith. I began by saying: “you know you guys are all standing in front of the save-a-lot, I know Jesus and he is the God who saves-a-lot of us by his grace and forgives us. We had an animated discussion about how God saves us not by our merits or worth and they spoke about who Jesus is for them which included all their favorite bible passages including: ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:11). These men doubted that Bridge of Peace or any church would welcome them to service and they were assured that they would be welcome anytime on Wednesday night or Sunday and that to us forgiveness of sin is freely given on account of Christ and all are welcome anytime. They wondered if this Christ could forgive them as they jointly confessed “doing drugs and making bad choices in their lives.” They were assured that yes they were forgiven Children of God and we even had a discussion of our friend Thomas who doubted. I assured them that Thomas should have been called “Confessing Thomas” instead of “Doubting Thomas” and that every day they should be clear who they are as children of God and maybe just like Thomas say: “My Lord and My Savior” as they walk the scary streets of Camden and God will hear their cries. One gentleman who was nineteen and was kicked out of his house at the age of twelve looked at me and said well “didn’t God send you.” I simply looked at them all and said, “actually God gave you to each other, and that is something special and when you see the Save-A-Lot sign, remember.” The young nineteen year old said: “I know, we will remember who saves us, its Jesus.” I said that they also could remember that they are always welcome at Bridge of Peace Church on a bridge between Fairview and Morgan Village where we welcome all of God’s children. I think this is the Good News from Camden, NJ for this week!
Story #3
New Members joined Bridge of Peace on January 13, 2008. Our friend Marshall Fisher, Jr. has been attending Bridge of Peace for about six months and decided he wanted to be baptized and join the church. He wants to share with you he is joining because of “the warmth and welcoming nature of the congregation” & “because in baptism he knows the light of Christ will shine for and in him forever.” He says that when he leaves church each week he feels “changed." His sponsor was Ms. Geraldine Dutton.
Marshall with Gerry Dutton Marshall with Ms. Sue Jones,
LTSP Field Rotation Student
We also baptized Dynasty who was born four months ago at just over one pound. She is now a healthy seven pound baby girl and she is a real gift to her mother and family as described by them; we agree!
Dynasty with her mother and sponsors Dynasty and her mother with Vicar Peggy
Another member who wanted to affirm his baptism was Fernando Solero and he shares that he loves the fellowship, the lack of judgment and the ability to use his gifts here. He wanted a "new start" and felt so happy after affirming his faith in community. Please pray for all our new members.
Fernando as he affirms his faith Fernando with Pastor Giselle
Story #2
At Bridge of Peace Community Church we have mangers from around the world which depict our multicultural, multi-lingual and multi-racial congregation. Josie Sanchez (age 6) claimed that we needed one from Camden and this is the story which goes with our special creche. Jesus said to baptize all in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and we shall!
The Camden Manger
A Children's Story for Christmas Eve
A Diorama Story
By: Jose A. Sanchez
12/16/07
It was the 24th of December, a cold Christmas Eve. The labor pains were intolerable, and there was no hope of getting her to the hospital in time.
The phone bill had not been paid so no calls could be made. The car had two flats. The apartment was the farthest from the street, so others did not hear the baby being born. That did not matter, no one was around or would come to help in Camden; the place where people lived, but had no lives.
Paul did what he could to keep his first born from being born in a city that was dismissed by everyone. He felt there were no options. His job barely paid for the broken roof that was above their heads, but he knew they were blessed, because others did not have a roof.
As the baby came, something warmed their cold room; a warmth that had never been felt by them in all the time they lived in the one room, that used to be a garage, behind the property.
Paul wrapped the baby in the clothes that came from the neighborhood church and prayed that someone would come to help him and his beloved. He prayed that someone would take their new born baby to the hospital or to a real house that had heat.
As he closed his eyes and tears ran down his face, he heard a knock and moved to the door. On the other side stood three Seminary students that been sent from the church that gave them the clothes. They were there to check up on them; sent by the pastor that prayed for them each time they visited and asked for help.
“Look the baby has been born,” said one of them to the rest, “Go tell Pastor Giselle, so she can come and bless them.”
A voice came from above, the voice of that same pastor, saying: “Take this family in your car and bring them to church where we will baptize the child in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.”
The three Seminary students brought Laura, Paul and the new born baby out. A crowd had formed. They knew something fantastic was happening. They were the people that lacked material things. They were afraid to come out of their homes, but they were praying for their city to be filled with Christmas joy. The seminarians gathered in the middle of the yard and asked the neighbors to come and witness the Glory of God in the midst of poverty and brokenness.
The neighbors, of all colors, languages and backgrounds, gathered in the warmth of the child that brought them together. A child that was born, with nothing but donated used clothes to wear, in a cold desolate garage, on Christmas Eve in a City called Camden. The birth brought them hope. It filled them with joy, and gave them the promise of new community, where there had been only cold and lonely desolation.
To All a Blessed Christmas Filled With the Blessings of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Story #1
The Turkey, the Car Seat and a New Beginning
A Migrant Story
One of our neighborhood members who is constantly on the margins and often using drugs was really in need of a Thanksgiving basket and the thought of his five children hungry at Thanksgiving was impossible for anyone to handle. Mr. Smith (name changed) was so thankful for a Thanksgiving basket; he came to the Peace Center the next day and brought a car seat that his child no longer needed. Mr. Smith stated that he “felt called to bring it to us as he knew another would need it” and “buying drugs with this seat was not in God’s plan.” We accepted the car seat and together we prayed for him to overcome his challenges with addictions. Well, wouldn’t you know that someone surely would need that car seat! A beautiful three year old with long dark hair, black brown eyes, the whitest skin smudged by dirt on her right cheek, and whose fingers were so cold when we met her she couldn’t move them.
It was a cold day and a tentative knock could be heard at the Peace Center door. It was a Latino woman and five children. Pastor Giselle welcomed them in and realized immediately that bathrooms were needed, hot chocolate was made for the children and coffee needed to be served for this quiet and elegant family. The mother and sixteen year old daughter explained the situation including living in an abandoned home for the past month without heat, water and electricity. Her husband disappeared after what she assumed were immigration officials came to his place of employment. They all ran in the family car, two sets of clothing and few earthly possessions. The crayons and coloring books just overjoyed the children from Zion, Riverside, as did the new gloves and hats from St. Matthew in Moorestown, our sister congregations. Other books and bibles were just treasures beyond words and the seven year old kept saying “are you sure we can keep them.” The hot soup which followed was almost more than this family could imagine and the ten year old actually cried. The mother was seeking a car seat, gas and food for the long journey to the southern states where she could clean houses or pick fruit and eventually arrive outside Miami to her sister’s home. She had been “cleaning for a maid service which was paying her $3.00 a house” and she cleaned “as many as 12 houses a day.” The sixteen year old watched the children in the car or at the house during the day afraid her mother would never come home at night. The children were not registered in school. Mrs. Lopez’s (name changed) hands were burned and bleeding from the cleaning products she used on her job and she required care because of the burns and open wounds. She would not tell me where she worked or who she worked for but the previous day she had worked for 14 hours, made $36.00 cash, and that was the last straw. When she arrived home her sixteen year old and the children were hysterical thinking she had “also disappeared.” She did not have enough for a home, her children were cold, she felt like a failure, lost and abandoned and she knew none of her rights in this land of opportunity. So we did all we could do, we went into action by simple faith…
Yes, God had sent Mr. Smith with his strengths and weaknesses to help this family. A car seat was brought up from the basement which Mrs. Lopez exclaimed was a miracle. Gas was eventually placed in her car and a fifty dollar gift certificate was given to her for further gas along the road which was donated to the church by a retired pastor. We brought portable food like canned fruit with flip tops, peanut butter and jelly, bread, and so much more from the basement. This food was provided by Immanuel, Lakewood; St. Paul, Hainesport; Holy Communion, Berlin and St. Matthew, Moorestown. Then we added flashlights and quilts from other sister churches. Lastly and most importantly we spoke about faith and prayed. These are the prayers the children and mother prayed after our conversation…
Señor, Padre, Creador, Mi Espacio Salvo
Gracias para mi familia y mantienelos salvos
gracias para esta familia aqui en la iglesia y mantienelos salvos
gracias para Jesús, El murió para siempre mantenernos todos salvos
Cuando corremos otra vez,
permite que sabemos que siempre podemos correr a ti
Señor, Padre, Creador, Mi Espacio Salvo
God, Father, Creator, My Safe Space
Thank you for my family and keep them safe
Thank you for this church family and keep them safe
Thank you for Jesus, He died to always keep us safe
When we run again, let us know we can always run to you
God, Father, Creator, My Saving Space
Maria, age 16
Honduran Refugee
Hola Dios,
Aquí yo estoy hablando cuando vamos a mover otra vez,
por favor nos mantengas seguros en el camino hoy,
gracias para el sol, tiempo bueno porque yo me gusta el trueno y lluvia.
Hagas que mi Mama para de llorar y ayuda su sonrisas.
Te quiero Dios y usted me adora. Amén
Hi God,
Here I am again talking as we move,
Please keep us safe on the road today,
Thank you for the sun, good weather because I don’t like thunder and rain.
Make my Mommy stop crying and help her smile.
I love you God and you love me. Amen
Jose, age 12
Honduran Refugee
Te alabamos Señor
Damos gracias a Dios por este día
Damos gracias a Dios para esta iglesia y esta pastora
Damos gracias para esta familia y el alimento y el gas
Mantiene a mi familia segura este día y siempre Amén
We praise you God
Thank you God for this day
Thank you God for this church and pastor
Thank you God for this family and food and gas
Keep us safe this day and always
Amen
Mother Lourdes
Age 32
As the family left, the sixteen year old said, do not let people forget us because we will never forget you and this church. God will bless you and everyone who has given us this help more than they will ever know. Pastor Giselle assured them that they were the ones who had blessed us.
Pastor Giselle saw Mr. Smith in Fairview last week. He looked at Pastor Giselle and said “did you come to the square to remind me not to do drugs because I have been clean for nine days and today I was going to buy?” She told him it was his choice but that God loved him and stood with him. As they sat on the bench and he heard the story of our family from Honduras he made the choice, he called his wife, asked Pastor to stay with him and then went home with no drugs in hand and an appointment to come to the Peace Center to discuss treatment options. He said; “Pastor, God is really good… she said; all the time…” The miracles continue as we care for the ones who reflect Christ to us as much as we reflect Christ to them.
We at Bridge of Peace believe we all have gained so much and now we ask you to pray for those who travel the roads and byways this Christmas season just like Mary and Joseph did so many centuries ago. They need God’s protection and care and found it because of many of you. These families have found the Good News which we have been able to share through the work of our Peace Center and along the way they have found people who value them and will not forget them. They encountered the body of Christ in the world. The good news has been proclaimed because of your efforts on behalf of God's precious children and we together have lifted up the lowly, fed the hungry, set people free, and changed lives. We are blessed to know that a gracious God stands with all of us and we thank God for you and lift you all to God's care and protection through this year!