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WHAT IS A "CHURCH IN THE WOODS?"
- It's "leaving the 99 sheep which are in the fold, and searching for the one still out in the cold." (Luke 15)
- It's "stopping for the wounded man, passed by, by others, on the roadside." (Luke 10)
- It's
"going out to the streets and hedges and finding and inviting to the 'feast,'
the poor, the crippled; all the 'outcasts,' both good and bad." (Luke 14,
Matt 22)
- It's
following Jesus' example of travelling from place to place, bringing help
to the people, where they live, typically meeting with them out-of-doors.
- It desires to "seek and save that which is lost." (Luke 19)
"Church
in the Woods" considers it's congregation all the "lost sheep" of the Raleigh,
NC area, specifically our homeless population.
For
these so often feel like too much like outsiders; they so often think of
themselves as too dirty, too addicted, too messed up, to feel comfortable
in a "nice church."
Jesus
does not want them left out! He wants their needs, both physical and
spiritual, met. We must bring "church" to them if they feel unable or uncomfortable with entering a church building.
"Church in
the Woods," in "circuit riding" style, brings prayer,
food, needed items, friendship and guidance to homeless
in and around Raleigh.
We want to be a bridge for them, helping them
take that first step toward reintegration with society. As well as
taking the step into Salvation in Jesus.
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HISTORY & BIO
(Download MS Word Version of History, Goals & Beliefs)
“Church in the Woods” is an outreach ministry of InterSeed. InterSeed
is a non-profit, non- denominational Christian prayer organization which
prays with informed strategic intercession, for the needs of the city, state
& country. InterSeed operates a community prayer center, and sponsors
“Capitol Area Prayer Team.”
“Church in the Woods” was born out of prayer teams going out to the streets,
to pray for people “on location,” rather than only in the prayer center.
Many homeless were found and prayed for. Soon, teams were going into
the woods to map homeless locations and pray for the people.
The Bible says to leave the ninety-nine and go find the one. Most homeless
agencies are not equipped to go searching for clients. We are that
tool.
Teams bring food, toiletries, sleeping bags, socks & gloves, and love to the people they find.
More volunteers are needed to go into unmapped areas for "search & rescue missions."
When homeless sites are identified, volunteers are needed to adopt a person
or an area. The homeless need a friend and a bridge to community resources.
Like a circuit-riding pastor, Alice McGee, director of “Church in the Woods,”
visits these homeless people, giving help, counsel and prayer.
“Church in the Woods” also host special events for the poor and homeless:
A “come as you are” Easter service at Moore Square, a Christmas Eve service
& party, and church picnics. All have brought many people to faith
in Christ.
We believe that no one is beyond the reach of God, no matter how addicted
or broken. Homelessness can be ended, one life at a time.
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OUR GOALS & BELIEFS
(Download MS Word Version of History, Goals & Beliefs)
OUR GOALS ARE:
- To provide people an opportunity to receive salvation in Jesus Christ, spiritual discipleship, and growth.
- To
locate, and bring the poor or homeless person to the place of healing, where
they can enter and successfully complete community job training and other
programs, receive low cost housing and reintegrate into society.
- To work with others in the city to help form programs and policies using our experience with homeless persons.
- To bring awareness of poor and homeless issues and needs to the attention of the community.
- To work to change laws which are discriminatory to homeless and poor, of all nationalities.
- To
legally give services to Hispanic and other refugees. A safe place;
a free, Spanish-language day shelter with lunch, Bible studies, ESL, counseling,
clothing, laundry facilities, bathrooms, showers.
OUR BELIEFS:
- We
believe in the value of every person as created by God. No matter what
situation he is in or what he has done, there is forgiveness and restoration
in Jesus Christ.
- We believe that the love of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit is sufficient for every need.
- We
believe that we as Christians are the hands of God extended to touch others
and that when we do for others we are doing it for Him.
- We
believe that as Jesus’ primary ministry was in the streets and carried to
the people, we also should get out of the walls of our churches and bring
church to the people.
- We
believe that all Christians are members together of one church body in Christ,
and so all Christians, regardless of denomination, are welcome to minister
with us to the poor, and homeless.
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