LINK UP MINISTRIES, INC.  2012

Welcome to our LUMI (LINK UP MINISTRIES Inc) Blog site. We have launched this blog site to provide our partners, leaders, and directors with access to our newsletters, updates, bulletins, snapshots, and videos of what God is doing locally in the streets and around the world. Please explore the tabs at the top of this Home Page. There, you will find various LINK UP Outreaches.  Thanks for co-partnering with us as we “Take It To The Streets!”  Pastor Barry (Papa Bear)

MARCUM TERRACE BLITZ

Sarah, Ian, Stuart, Thomas, Momma Bear

Momma Bear and Mick

It’s really great to see God’s design of things.  He sent a completely different team of LINK UP Leaders through the Lower, Middle, and Upper Terrace. Less than a year ago, God sent Sarah to us amid incredible obstacles. We are now seeing Peace wash over her whole life like a river as she learns to lean upon Him. She was my Blitz Buddy tonight as we went from door to door, and I was amazed at how good she was at talking to the people and pointing out the Gospel Message on the back of the Cookout Invitations.   Momma Bear paired up with Street/Jail Shepherd, Mick, and he commented on how bold she is in sharing the Gospel. LINK UP Marcum Terrace Leader, Mary, brought her friend, Christine, with her and they covered Upper Terrace. Mary is right at home because she knows so many people that live there. She has met many of them on her bus and street ministry. And, to top things off, 3 LINK UP TEEN SQUAD Leaders (Ian, Stuart, and Thomas) from Covenant School, joined us. They took right to things and engaged a man in Upper Terrace who had a theory that the Great Pyramid of Giza is actually a launch pad for aliens.

Pat and Momma Bear with some of the kids.

Departing from the wonderment of how God puts things together, we have something urgent to report. We circled up with a destitute mom to pray for her and the 7 others (mostly children) living with her.  She gave me her name and let me take her picture so I could post them on this LINK UP Blog in the hopes that we will have many LINK UP Partners carrying her plight to God in prayer. Pat and the kids have no food. I have an appointment to take her to see LINK UP Partner, Gary, who works at his home church (Trinity Church of God) and is a custodian of their food pantry. Gary told us that today (Thursday) they gave away food to over 80 people, and there might not be much left to give Pat tomorrow morning.

PRAISING GOD FOR DIVINE OPPORTUNITIES

IN MARCUM TERRACE!

 

LINK UP Children's Ministry Leader teaching Terrace Kids.

THURSDAY – APRIL 18th Marcum Terrace Blitz

– Meet at the Community Center at 6:30 PM and do a Door-To-Door Blitz to invite the people to join us on Saturday for a cook out, free clothing, children’s church, prayer, love, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

SATURDAY – APRIL 21st from 1:00 PM til 3:00 PM – LINK UP will be in Marcum Terrace at the Community Center.

We would like to thank Monica, Director of Marcum Terrace, for her open-arms welcome she has extended to LINK UP MINISTRIES.  We can foresee many Divine Opportunities in the future to launch things like Little Links, and many other outreaches.

LINK UP CELEBRATION PARTY FOR SARAH -

At a Thursday Night Community Bible Study, Devoted Ministries Director, Becky, asked me a really good question. She wanted to know if LINK UP does followup and discipling of people who get saved. In response to her question, I assured her that all LINK UP Directors and Leaders are clear on Jesus’ instructions to make disciples.  I did however, clarify that not all who place faith in Jesus avail themselves to LINK UP Discipleship; but for the ones who do, they soon learn that there are things in place that help newly saved ones get on the right track and they receive strong encouragement to follow Jesus.One such person who has attached herself to us is Sarah.

Congrats, Sarah! Future Workforce Welding Instructor

If you are a follower of what God has been doing through LINK UP MINISTRIES, you might remember our periodic reports on a young mom named Sarah. One of the first things the Lord did for her through your generosity was to provide her with a pink laptop computer.  Well, today (Saturday), after our LINK UP Discipleship/Leadership Training Class, Momma Bear, Linnie, Mick, Russ, Hal and I threw a little graduation party for Sarah. She passed her certification welder’s test for her place of work at Fletcher’s Mining Machinery.  We have plans for Sarah to be the Welding Instructor for LINK UP Workforce/Ironton, OH.  This is a new ministry for teens who need a reason to live.  LINK UP Work Force Director-in-Training, EJ, and I have been putting motorcycles in the BFC/LINK UP Machine Shop in preparation for teaching two teens (one male and one female) how to build “old school” motorcycles; training them how to weld, rewire, paint, repair and build motorcycles.  As with all of our outreach ministries, we will make sure that the two teens who are accepted into LINK UP Workforce will encounter the Gospel of Jesus Christ, receive love and respect, discipleship, and life-skills training.  Presently, we are looking carefully at a young man who I suspect is a heroin addict and needs a reason to live.  We know that Jesus can turn his whole life around, if he will place faith in Him, and let us point him in the right direction.

Momma Bear's Trike compliments of LINK UP Workforce

Here is a picture of the old-school Volkswagen-powered trike I am fabricating for Momma Bear.  P.S., I learned how to do this kind of stuff when I too was a welder at J.H. Fletcher’s Mining Machinery back in the 1970′s. That’s where I worked when Jesus saved me.

ON THE RADAR

"Door-to-door" outreach.

Momma Bear showing her war-face.

NEW SONG CHURCH and LINK UP MINISTRIES went into a housing complex in Huntington known as Marcum Terrace.  We used a rather old-fashioned method of making contact with the people living there…we went “door-to-door” with invitations to join us on Saturday, March 24th, at Emammuel Community Church for FREE HOTDOGS.  TEAM ONE  went to Middle and Upper Terrace – Pastor Jeff Overstreet, with two of his children,  Angie, a young lady from New Song, and LINK UP Leadership Trainees, Linnie and E J, reported great opportunities to pray with people and an overall good

Brittany - holding infant

reception. TEAM TWO – Momma Bear, Sarah, and I went through Lower Terrace, and likewise had some very good conversations with the residences. EJ and Linnie reported back to us that they had met a young mother who had just received devastating news that her little boy, Gavin, has leukemia. She was eager to have us circle her and pray for Divine Mercies. Her name is Brittany.

First Fruits Pantry – LINK UP will host a dinner honoring the precious people who have received food from First Fruits Pantry over the past few years.  First Fruits Pantry is a ministry of Union Missionary Baptist Church – Directors, Laura and John Kinley.

LINK UP – “TAKING IT TO THE STREETS” GOES TO MARCUM TERRACE THIS SPRING. 

We are living in a day when there is so much burnout, jealousy, and drama going on in churches and among believers.  It is a rare thing to see enthusiasm, cooperation, and unity. I know our Enemy wants Christians at each others’ throats and distracted from the things that matter, but our God has His hand of blessing on the Directors, Leaders, and Partners of our little outreach ministry. During our last Leaders’ Meeting (Thursday, March 9th) LU Street Shepherds, Directors of Children’s Ministries, First Fruits Pantry and Manna House Leaders, LU Leadership Trainees, Devoted Ministries, and LU Directors all met, prayed prayers of thanksgiving and petition, and sought the Lord’s favor over this year’s spring and summer outreaches.  By God’s Grace, the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ will pierce the moral darkness of Marcum Terrace, and people will receive the love of Jesus in practical ways. WE SURE COULD USE YOUR PRAYERS!!!

LINK UP WORKFORCE IS UNDER WAY IN IRONTON. E J, Linnie, Momma Bear and I have been going to the building which BFCers Jim and Danny Bond (with their brother, Rick) have donated to LINK UP. We have been doing basic cleaning up and repairs.  Soon, LU will announce a combined WORK DAY for BFC and LU. We need donated materials, labor, cleaning and painting crews, and roofers to help us make the building useful. The Bond Family building will house a Bikers For Christ Club House, LINK UP Workforce, and a Teen Outreach called THE GARAGE. We want to thank the Pastor and Mrs. Rob Hale, BFCers Jim and Gaynelle Bond, and Ironton Church of the Nazarene for providing us with four great dinners last Saturday (March 10th).

ORGANIZATIONAL PLANS FOR LINK UP TEEN FORCE/TEEN CONGRESS HAVE BEEN LAUNCHED – Beginning at my home church, and spreading to other LU Supporting Churches, as well as a few Public and Christian Schools, we are watching a movement among Teenagers who want to learn how to reach out to their friends with the Gospel Message. One of the UG (Underground) Teens, Sami Miller, reported in church Sunday (March 11) that God used her witness and influence in the salvation of one of her pen pals. We are sensing a movement of the Spirit and excitement in the hearts of teens all over the place. Who knows, we could be on the cutting edge of a revival or a teen invasion of the Gospel. If you (your middle school or high school teen) are interested in knowing more about this new and innovative outreach program – TEEN FORCE – please E-mail me at: umbcbarry@zoominternet.net

LINK UP WESTMORLAND is not out of the question for the upcoming 2012/2013 school year.  As some of you might know, the Lord has sent to us a new LU Director. His name is Tracy Lipscomb. His giftedness is in public relations and finances. Tracy has had a burden to contact friends and outreach minded people to help us raise a budget of $2,000 per month. Things are looking very good, and it is quite possible that we will be able to launch a teen intervention/outreach in the West End of Huntington.  We have had our eyes on a rental building in Westmorland ever since my good friend and biker buddy, Mel McCallister invited LU to make use of his Pawn Shop. We know of a building which could easily become a base of operations for  many pre-teens and teens living in that part of town who are responding to my wife’s compassion and motherly care for them. The building, I think rents for about $250.00 per month.

WOULD  YOU PRAY FOR MY CHURCH SECRETARY? HER NAME IS DEB.

She suffers from an autoimmune disease called MG. Lately, she has been suffering horribly with a live bacteria of the pulmonary system that can spread to other parts of her body and can become quite deadly. The autoimmune disease keeps her from fighting off the bacteria. I told her that we could put together a small army of LINK UP Partners and Bikers For Christ Road Warriors who would be more than willing to pray for her. Thanks for your prayers. Barry

NEW UPDATES:

 

Clothing giveaway - Winter Streets Outreach

HELP NEEDED FROM SOME MOMS AND DAUGHTERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Many people throughout the winter months have been very faithful to provide us with warm winter clothing. We have freely given these items away on the streets and at the River Ministry. As we approach the end of winter and the onset of spring, we still have bags and bags of clothes. On Saturday, February, 25th, we will have our last “Winter Streets” Outreach. No doubt, even after giving away lots of clothing, there will still be many items left over.  Would there be any moms and daughters who would be willing to sort through all the clothes and separate kids jeans, shirts, pants, etc. from the adult clothes. We will attempt to give the kids clothes to the needy children who live in Marcum Terrace, and take the adult clothes to the River Ministry? If you would partner with us in this, it would be greatly appreciated. Please E-mail me at: umbcbarry@zoominternet.net or leave a message on my cell phone at: (304) 544-5086.  We would like to do this as soon as possible. Thanks!  Barry

MARK – a couple of months ago, we received word from Dave (Shovelhead) of Iron Cities Choppers and Brothers of the Wheel MC, that one of his new bikers, Mark, was involved in a life-threatening crash. Within the hour, LINK UP MINISTRIES and River Cities Bikers For Christ Elder, Jim Bond (007), along with many BFC and BOTW bikers mobilized and went to the hospital to pray over Mark.  He was so seriously injured that he had to have a portion of his skull was removed to allow for swelling of his brain.  Recently, Mark and his wife came to the Annual Bikers For Christ Pastors’ Appreciation Dinner in Lucasville, OH. He wanted me to make sure everyone in LINK UP knows how much he appreciated all the prayers.

MORE HAL’S KIDS – Late Thursday Evening, a man named Stan, who received Jesus over 3 years ago, notified LINK UP that he had a family of 6 staying with him who had been thrust out on the streets. Director, Hal, responded immediately and went to Stan’s little 2 room apartment in the West End to see what could be done to help them. Here’s what he discovered: three little boys, one infant of about four months, a husband and wife. The kids had been wearing the same clothes to Central City for many days (socks were pathetic), the baby had no Pampers, baby wipes or any change of clothing, the mom had only what was on her back, dad was wearing tennis shoes with the souls flapping. I saw the 3 boys’ coats and they were ripped and soiled.  Stan was more than willing to share what he had, but he was down to about three meals.

Our generous friend, Stan.

Jeff and Angie with boys.

That night, we all had prayer to ask God to put in our hands what we needed to show His love for the family. We made sure everyone there heard about Jesus and His salvation. (One of the little boys who was self-conscious because of a speech impediment said as we were all declaring Jesus, “I beweeve, Papa Bear!”) Hal went to the store and took back food and diapers. He had a box in his van which had miraculously had clothes for the boys in it. On Friday, a monthly bus pass was given to the dad so he could go look for work, clothes, food, and coats showed up. I wish I could show you what I have in my hand, but please just let me describe it.  As EJ and I were leaving them early Friday morning, Angie handed me a 2″ X 3″ scrap of notebook paper, that all of them had signed. Here’s what they wrote: “thanks for the cloths and food papa bear! bless you for LIFE! from Gavin, from Caleb, from Casey, from Jeff, from Angie, from Stan, from Hayden”

AMAZING GRACE BIKER CHURCH

SATURDAY , JANUARY 21 AT 3:00 PM

LICENSED MINISTER, CHARLES WORRELL (GHOST)

EVERYONE IS WELCOME

FELLOWSHIP HALL OF CHESAPEAKE NAZARENE CHURCH