Hello!  I wanted to send you an update regarding our last distribution and some current needs that we have for the ministry of QJC.  This past weekend we had 57 men and women (47 men and 10 women) come out to “To the Streets”.  It is one of the larger distributions we’ve had since the summer started and although we were short handed (4 volunteers) we were able to meet the needs of each person and we got a chance to connect with each person that came through.  We also provided a memorial space for Ronnie Robinson who died at the beginning of September.  Many commented on his picture, his story—some knew him personally and others felt a connection based on similar circumstances.   Please continue to remember the homeless community in your prayers…  Especially as fall approaches the homeless will find themselves in circumstances that are less secure because of the weather conditions.  You can already feel the change in the air and we hope that this next year we will be able to provide more blankets and more coats to the community here in Ballard.  With that said, I want to challenge you to join us in a few different ways.  The below is a list of needs that we have…  Please pray and consider helping out in one of the ways below.  It is a great opportunity to deepen the ministry and the relationships that we are building.  Here goes: 1)        Continue coming out to help out on Saturdays for the distribution.  Remember we meet every THIRD Saturday of the month from 12 to 3 pm.  We need extra help in the next few months.2)        We need someone to commit to helping out with some administrative needs for To the Streets.  We need someone for about 10 hours a month to help us create fliers, send mailings to local organizations, contact businesses’ to solicit donations for To the Streets, create brochures, etc.  This is a great need.  We are unable on our own to continue to spread the word and make the needed contacts that we need to make in order to continue growing and deepening the ministry.  Please consider this as a possibility to get more involved in the behind the scenes needs of ‘To the Streets’.  It is a great opportunity to help out and get to know the community more intimately.  3)        We NEED resources specifically: BLANKETS, COATS, SOCKS, JEANS (PARTICULARLY MEN’S JEANS), SLEEPING BAGS, TOOTH BRUSHES, TOOTHPASTE, and DEODORANT.  We realize that so many have given to provide resources for ‘To the Streets’, but we wonder would you be willing to organize and facilitate your own ‘blanket’ drives or ‘sock’ drives at your work or through your C groups or with your families? Each of you have a circle of influence and maybe with your personal and professional contacts you could work to collect the much needed items above.  My suggestion is to focus on an item you’d want to raise, send an email or start talking to your contacts and then collect the items.  You can drop them by the church on Sunday.  You can hold a drive over the course of a month or longer.  Please let me know if this interests you and I can provide the needed resources to get this started—maybe you want more info about To the Streets or a personal story or the mission…  I can provide those for you.  4)        We will be providing a Thanksgiving meal for the homeless again in November.  The dinner will be held on November 17th following the ‘To the Streets’ distribution.  As we did last year we will need people to help provide the meal, we will need servers on the day of the event we need a set up team and a clean up team.  I would love to start with a team of 3-4 people to help plan the event…  If you are interested please contact me.   We have the distinct and amazing opportunity each month to minister to the homeless—we are the only organization doing what we do in the Ballard area and that serves a great need.  Our presence is of the utmost importance, as the community is building stronger relationships with us and looks forward to each day that we are on 15th and Market.  I am proud of the work that we are doing, but I see that it can be more and it can be deeper—we just need help and people to help bear the burden with us as we continue to press forward to follow the call God has placed in our hearts.  I am reminded often of Bono’s words: “God is with the vulnerable and poor. God is in the slums, in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house. God is in the silence of a mother who has infected her child with a virus that will end both their lives. God is in the cries heard under the rubble of war. God is in the debris of wasted opportunity and lives, and God is with us if we are with them.  God is with the poor.  If you want to find God go to the poor.”  Wow, Bono is so wise.  But the reality is that those words are true and we are reminded of that when we open scripture and see God’s love, God’s heart for the marginalized.  It is a compelling call, especially in seeing how Christ himself responded and cared for those in poverty around him…  I’m looking forward to many more years of ministry with the homeless and my hope is that you’ll join your church in prayers and in action.  Thank you for the many prayers and sacrifices that have gone out before us.  I look forward to the continued journey with you. Many Blessings, Pastor DeAnza