Monday, January 21, 2008

SONSHINE'S 3rd ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION


In a subzero January deepfreeze, scores of volunteers and supporters of Sonshine Outreach Ministries turned out to fellowship in faith at First Baptist Church, Lockport, Il. They all celebrated by lifting up the Name of the Lord in song, prayer and speech. Excellent hot chili warmed up the cold night where nine different churches were represented.

These churches included Ridgewood Baptist; Grace Bible; Bible Baptist; First Baptist Redbud; Springfield Bible and the ministry homebase - First Baptist, Lockport.
The 3rd Annual report was delivered by Joyce Mancke, one of the founders of the ministry with her husband Verlin Mancke and Ben and Betty Tan - all of Lockport.

The rapidly growing group now ministers every single Sunday of the month at four different Nursing homes to seniors and shut ins. These homes are Salem Village NH; Rosewood Care Center; Paradise Park Assisted Living and Lakewood Nursing Home.
The ministry brings Christ to our lovely seniors weekly, at a different home each week.
Above are some of the warm memories of the anniversary celebration!
Ministry Song Leader and Music minister/co founder Gui Ben Tan (top photo) directs the old gospel songs, with Brian Morgan on keyboard (background).





DECEMBER 2007 NEWSLETTER

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, ye have done it unto me". Matt: 25:40

Salem Village Nursing Home Paradise Park Assisted Living
Rosewood Care Center Lakewood Nursing Home

Nine year old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday School. “Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea, He had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then, he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved.”
“Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?” his mother asked. “Well, no, Mom. But, if I told it the way the teacher did, you’d never believe it.”

Many people have a hard time believing that God can do anything. He can do anything, but fail. Isn’t it wonderful that we serve a God that is all powerful and all knowing and nothing is impossible with Him? I love the song, “Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before, every day with Jesus, and I love Him more and more”. It’s such a comfort to know He is always with me in everything I do, even though I have failed Him in so many ways. The following poem says it all.

When I say I am a Christian, I’m not shouting I’m clean living, I’m whispering, I was lost, Now I’m found and am forgiven. When I say I am a Christian, I don’t speak of this with pride. I’m confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide. When I say, I am a Christian; I’m not trying to be strong. I’m professing that I’m weak and need His strength to carry on. When I say, I am a Christian, I’m not bragging of success. I’m admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess. When I say, I am a Christian; I’m not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it. When I say, I am a Christian; I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches so I call upon His name. When I say, I am a Christian; I’m not holier than thou. I’m just a simple sinner who received God’s good grace, somehow. And His grace is sufficient for every need I have ever had.

December was a great month and we celebrated at each of the nursing homes by giving a lap blanket to every resident who attended the services. We gave out 98 blankets and received many smiles and hugs. Thanks to all of you who participated. Whether you sang, played an instrument, passed out programs, pushed a wheel chair or just came and supported us, we appreciate each and every one of you. We also appreciate the gifts of money we received from many of you and several of you have asked how you can contribute to the Ministry, so we have made it easy. We have set up a bank account in the name of “SonShine Outreach Ministry” and anyone who wishes to give in the future can make your checks payable to SonShine Outreach Ministry and they can be mailed to my address at 509 Rhonda Dr., Lockport, IL. 60441. Your contributions are tax deductible and you will receive an annual statement for your tax records. Contributions are all used for the on going expenses of the Nursing Home Ministry. Hundreds of tracts, several Bibles and devotional books were given out this year. We want to do even more in 2008.

Our schedule for January is as follows

Lakewood Nursing Home, Plainfield – Jan 6th, @ 2:30 p.m., Salem Nursing Home, Joliet – Jan 13th @ 2:00 p.m.
Rosewood Rehab Ctr. – Joliet - Jan 20th @ 2:00 p.m. and Paradise Park, New Lenox - Jan 27th @ 2:00 p.m.

Please come and join us, we need your talents. You will make a difference and God will bless you for it.
Respectfully submitted by Joyce Mancke jmancke@sbcglobal.net. 815-351-7659

NOVEMBER 2007 NEWSLETTER

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, ye have done it unto me". Matt: 25:40

Salem Village Nursing Home Paradise Park Assisted Living
Rosewood Care Center Lakewood Nursing Home

PRAISE THE LORD!! ! He is still in the business of Saving Souls. What a month we have experienced. My mother-in-law invited Jesus into her life the middle of November. Pastor Palmer and his wife, Karen, from First Baptist Church in Lockport, visited her and led her to the Lord. We are rejoicing with her decision, especially since we know that she is nearing the end of this life here. She has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and she needs your prayers. God doesn’t promise us tomorrow but he does promise us eternity and what a Blessing to know we will spend it with Jesus if we have invited Him into our hearts. She is no longer able to attend church and the Nursing Home services; however, we are so grateful that she did attend long enough to understand that she needed a Savior.

Natalia Ponce and I were visiting the Nursing Home on Thursday and for several months now she has been talking with a Mexican gentleman named Manny who has attended our services for a couple years. We were thrilled when we went to his room to see him today and realized that his roommate is Bob Bolton and Bob had led him to the Lord this week. Bob really loves the Lord and loves to share the good news. He is such a Blessing to me that even in his condition and confined to a Nursing Home; he shares the love of Jesus with his roommate and helps him understand that he needs a Savior. There is nothing more exciting than leading a person to Jesus.

I received an e-mail this week of a man who just found out he has terminal cancer and he tells about the day the doctors told him he didn’t have long to live. He starts the letter out by saying, “Blessings arrive in unexpected packages, - in my case cancer”. He goes on to say that he, “finds himself in an odd position of coping with mortality while trying to fathom God’s will”. He doesn’t want to spend his time saying “Why me” or Why must people suffer? as that is more of an expression of anguish. “We are fallen, we are imperfect and our bodies give out. We don’t know how the narrative of our lives will end, but we get to choose how to use the interval between now and the moment we meet our Creator face to face. The moment we enter the Valley of the Shadow of Death, things change, and you discover that Christianity is not something doughy, passive, pious, and soft”. You remember that we were born not into death, but into life, and that the journey continues after we have finished our days on this earth”.

As I read his letter, I am reminded over and over that this gentleman and many of the people in the Nursing Homes that I visit with every week has taught me a great lesson. They have taught me not how to die, but how to live. The mere thought of death somehow makes every blessing vivid, every happiness more luminous and intense. We may not know how our contest with sickness will end, but we have felt the touch of God and we know that as His children we are safe in the hollow of God’s hand. What a Blessing to know Him personally and share His love with others.

December is Christmas at the Nursing Homes. All of our services will be Christmas songs and we will be giving out lap blankets to all the residents who attend the services. Thank you to all who have contributed toward the blankets. We received several checks and gifts of money and we appreciate them all. Our schedule for December is as follows.

Lakewood Nursing Home, Plainfield – Dec. 2nd, @ 2:30 p.m., Salem Nursing Home, Joliet – Dec 9th @ 2:00 p.m.
Rosewood Rehab Ctr. – Joliet - Dec 16th @ 2:00 p.m. and Paradise Park, New Lenox - Dec 23rd @ 2:00 p.m.
Christmas Caroling at Salem Village after the service Dec 9th and also on Tuesday December 18th at 4:00 p.m.

Please come and join us, we need your talents. You will make a difference and God will bless you for it.
Respectfully submitted by Joyce Mancke jmancke@sbcglobal.net. 815-351-7659