I can't seem to get all the photos to embed, look here to see :
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Dear Prayer Partners
Time flies. The girls (OK, women) moved in August 1st and will soon complete the 3rd month of residency. There are now 4 students living in the main house and conducting ministry oversight. Until last Thursday, the guest house was also occupied by two ladies needing a place to stay while they re-gained their footing in the community. It is now available for whatever use the Lord has in mind for it.
Below is a collage of photos of the dining area, the library, the art room, and the “garden”.
Ministries are underway including
- Monday Night Prayer,
- International Justice Mission meetings on Tuesday evenings,
- Homeless Women’s Bible Study on Thursday evenings
- Periodic meetings of the Feed the Hungry Coalition.
- Athens PB&J Ministry continues to feed the homeless on Sunday afternoons at 2:00 p.m. in downtown Athens.
This Monday the back area was tilled (see photo – thanks Mark Howell) in anticipation of planting this Spring. It would be great if God sent residents for the guest house who would also be interested in looking after “the farm”. He is great even if He doesn’t. J
In Christ,
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Hi Prayer Team,
Well, it’s crunch time. When we purchased the Sunset House, it looked as bad as this:
This week, as we prepare to move in this weekend, it looks a little bit better.
Thanks to Reggie Ogg, Andy Homeyer, God, and all the volunteers who had a part in the preparations. We are preparing a list of furniture, fixtures, and supplies that might help get us situated. Pending its availability, we would like to hear from you if you have something you’d like to donate. Contact any of the following:
Lyndsey Copeland 706.585.0499
Pat Atkins 770.725.7124
Larry Atkins 706.201.8091
Please pray for us specifically to have strength, discernment, and wisdom as we move forward in ministry ... and that we do it always joyfully and for the glory of God. Amen.
In Christ, Larry
PS, let me know if you’d rather not receive these emails. No hurt feelings. Really!
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July 5, 2009
Hi Prayer Team,
Here is a vision rendering of what life at the Sunset House will look like - Lord willing – this fall.
June 22, 2009
Before finishing His work on earth Jesus prayed for His disciples and said, "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:20-23)
The Sunset House is new - an encouraging, open place for the body of Christ in Athens to be united. Yet still, many people rightfully and understandably ask what is going to go on at this house.
Well, a typical week at the Sunset House might look like this: on Sundays a group of students gather to prepare lunches for Athens PBJs, that night a small group Bible study of college men meets in the house. Monday evening, Athens PBJs uses the Sunset House for its weekly prayer meeting, and on Tuesday nights International Justice Mission does the same. A small group men’s Bible study meets over breakfast on Thursday mornings. Throughout the week the young women living in the home take full advantage of the large kitchen and cook meals themselves and with their friends. Because of the beautifully landscaped backyard and garden, people gather to talk and share coffee or tea on the gazebo. Many people enjoy playing ping-pong in the mother-in-law suite, some paint in the art room as soft music plays in the background, and others use the library with its collection of books and nice quiet study area. College and adult believers alike retreat to the prayer room to meet with our Father and receive refreshment and encouragement.
With this possible sample stated, it must be said that we are more concerned with who we are than what we do. We believe there is a need for a bright, encouraging place for believers to gather, retreat and fellowship - a place where that is not labeled by any denomination or specific church, and, by the grace of God, the fruit of the Spirit is exhibited and valued as we remain in Christ. The Sunset House is a place where the gospel is lived out.
Jesus prayed that His followers would be one – united – “so that the world may believe that You have sent me”. Our trust, hope and prayer is that the Sunset House would be different, and that by it’s loving, refreshing environment, believers would be drawn nearer to the Father and non-believers would see the light that shines in the darkness and be attracted to it.
By the grace of God, seriously, we’re not kidding.
In Christ,
Larry Atkins
Friday April 17, 2009
Dear Prayer Partners - by way of an update on the “Sunset Ministry House”:
On January 22nd we closed on the property at 342 Sunset Drive in Athens. We were proceeding upon the path of opening a men’s half way house when the Lord placed a different vision for the house on our hearts. Proverbs 16:9 hits the nail on the head: “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps”.
Enter Jireh’s Community.
Since last fall, I have been advising a UGA student ministry that has a heart for the broken & homeless: “Athens PBJs” (think Peanut Butter & Jelly) and the parent ministry Jireh’s Community. Started in January 2008, they have been feeding the homeless on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons. They also reach out in other ways, places, and times. They were praying for God to open up a way to start a house that would provide residence and physical/spiritual nourishment for men & women. In working with them to limit the early ministry somewhat - and see what doors God might open - we concluded that the Sunset House should play a strategic role as a ministry base for some of this and more.
The best way to grasp the vision is to think outreach, think restoration, think equipping, and think sending. These elements should crop up into the conversation as we envision the following initial uses during the first year. Commencing in August:
- The main building – 2 bedrooms upstairs will be home to 4 college student women who are leaders in Jireh’s Community ministry. 2 other bedrooms will have other uses I’ll explain in a future letter.
- The main building downstairs includes a large comfortable lounging room with fireplace for multifaceted fellowship and prayer (we’ve been meeting here every Monday night for prayer)
- A library/computer resource room will be available to all.
- A large fellowship hall seats 25+ for eating and training events (we’ve already had a Seder last week for Passover).
- A large kitchen will support internal and outreach events.
- Another guest bedroom is available downstairs.
- The large grounds will be part of a multi location CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) project similar to Roots Farm (http://www.rootsfarm.org/).
- The 2 Bedroom Cottage will house an “older couple” (think 30+) who will have oversight of the property.
As I write, several churches are supporting us in prayer, mentoring and accountability. Christ Community Church has a workday tomorrow Saturday.
I think this should be enough for most attention spans. Below is a shot from a recent prayer time of the leaders. Below that is a write up on Athens PBJs. More to come.
In Christ, Larry Atkins
So this is Athens PBJs: April 13, 2009
Athens PBJs uses food as a medium to build friendships with homeless people. Through love and consistency, we hope to build relationships and to break down currently existing societal barriers between the homeless community and the rest of Athens.
Athens PBJs began in January 2008 with the main focus of supplying food to homeless shelters in Athens. After five months of solidifying, growing, and developing the organization, we recognized that a change in focus was taking place. In August 2008 Athens PBJs switched from a focus on food to a focus on building relationships. Also at that time, Athens PBJs joined together with the vision for a house under the newly named umbrella ministry, Jireh’s Community.
People often ask, “Is Athens PBJs a Christian group, a ministry?” That’s a good question. We did not invent the idea of “relational homeless ministry” – Jesus did. We seek to model Jesus, to live and love like He did. If you are a “Christian” then you are probably aware of how Jesus lived and loved. If you are not, I encourage you to read about his life, and I think you will see why we choose to follow and model Him. No one has done it better; some have done it well, and most of them followed Him.
Specifically, Athens PBJs meets at 2:00 p.m. on Sundays outside The Grill in downtown Athens, GA. We typically gather as a group of 20 to as many as 75 people. After fellowshipping, sharing our two rules – we stay in at least pairs of two and we do not give out money when we go out as an organization on Sundays – and allowing for anyone who would like to share to do so, we pray and then split into three groups. One group remains downtown, one group visits the North Ave bridge, and the third group goes to Tent City and one other homeless community.
Throughout the week, Athens PBJs “regulars” visit and fellowship with their friends on the streets just as anyone would with any friend. As relationships develop and grow, needs are met as they arise and are able to be met. We also encourage people to attend Feed Downtown on Friday afternoons at 5:00 p.m. outside The Grill. We meet for prayer at the Sunset House on Monday nights at 7:00 p.m.
Athens PBJs has also enjoyed events such as retreats, a garage sale, a tailgate, birthday celebrations, holiday celebrations, graduations, and more. We have found some of these times to be the brightest points in our community’s history.
God is still molding Athens PBJs and we are trying not to get in the way. We are excited about the development of our sister ministry, the Sunset House, and some other most recent developments. God is faithful, good, and in control.
For what is best,
Robert Thrasher
April 3, 2009
Hi Prayer Partners,
I've been wanting to update you on the progress at the Sunset House. I am not exactly sure what to say because, recently, it seems that we are tearing things down faster than we're building things up. But we are inching along slowly and faithfully, as evidenced by the photos, below:
- On Saturday, we had a wonderful work day outside - the constant rain :-( didn't seem to dampen spirits. :-)
- We are meeting every Monday night at 7PM to pray over the house and ministry
- There is a new heating and AC unit, new roof, lots of framing, and new sub-floor upstairs.
We should have a vision statement, plan, schedule , and budget ready soon. I hope to include some of those elements in my next update. Again, please pray with us for clear vision and for workers for the harvest.
In Christ, Larry Atkins 706.201.8091 (Cell)
In Christ, Larry Atkins 706.201.8091 (Cell)
March 11, 2009
Hi CR Prayer Partners,
It has been a while since I last wrote to you regarding Celebrate Recovery Athens. While CR continues to grow worldwide, we have found the Athens community a tough nut to crack. After 92 weeks of ministry at Sparrow's Nest, we discontinued our Monday night program due to a lack of faithful flock. Fortunately, Compass Church has picked up the slack on Mondays and Cleveland Road Baptist continues on Thursdays. Please see http://www.celebraterecovery.com/?page_id=68 for all of Georgia's offerings.
Since we closed the Serenity River Residence Center last year, I have continued to seek ways to minister to fellow "addicts and otherwise broken folks". Toward that end, God has placed another house in my path: 342 Sunset Drive, Athens GA 30606. For the time being, we're calling it the "Sunset House" - isn't that clever :-) . The place is a mess, really (but then, so are we) and needs a lot of work (ditto) - see photos below. As we embark upon the process of restoring the house physically, we are vision-casting as to how the place will be a launching pad for both restoration and evangelism in the community. With 7 rooms in the main house and 4 in the adjacent Mother-in-Law apartment, we see it as a place of restoration, a place of equipping, and a place of sending. Yep, "recovery house and then some". Stay tuned.
Pray with us for clear vision and for workers for the harvest. In Christ,
Larry Atkins
770.725.7848 Office
706.201.8091 Cell
Hi CR Prayer Partners,
It has been a while since I last wrote to you regarding Celebrate Recovery Athens. While CR continues to grow worldwide, we have found the Athens community a tough nut to crack. After 92 weeks of ministry at Sparrow's Nest, we discontinued our Monday night program due to a lack of faithful flock. Fortunately, Compass Church has picked up the slack on Mondays and Cleveland Road Baptist continues on Thursdays. Please see http://www.celebraterecovery.com/?page_id=68 for all of Georgia's offerings.
Since we closed the Serenity River Residence Center last year, I have continued to seek ways to minister to fellow "addicts and otherwise broken folks". Toward that end, God has placed another house in my path: 342 Sunset Drive, Athens GA 30606. For the time being, we're calling it the "Sunset House" - isn't that clever :-) . The place is a mess, really (but then, so are we) and needs a lot of work (ditto) - see photos below. As we embark upon the process of restoring the house physically, we are vision-casting as to how the place will be a launching pad for both restoration and evangelism in the community. With 7 rooms in the main house and 4 in the adjacent Mother-in-Law apartment, we see it as a place of restoration, a place of equipping, and a place of sending. Yep, "recovery house and then some". Stay tuned.
Pray with us for clear vision and for workers for the harvest. In Christ,
Larry Atkins
770.725.7848 Office
706.201.8091 Cell
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