July 2020 Newsletter

07/20/2020 by Hannah

July 2020

Volume 27 Issue 7

SOS WOMEN’S MINISTRY

It was late at night in the summer of 1994, when I was dropping off the last girl at her home. She, a 15 year old girl in my teen girls class, suddenly grabbed me by the hand and said, “Ms. Carmen, will you please come inside and tell my family about Jesus? I told them that I was going to bring you by tonight! They are all waiting for you right now.” As I reluctantly went inside at 10pm, there they were all sitting on the couch; listening as I shared the most beautiful of all stories, the gospel of Jesus! That very night, the whole family got on their knees to receive Jesus in their hearts! Her aunt who was raising her asked, “If I invite my friends, will you come to my home, to teach us the Bible?” It was from that encounter our SOS women’s ministry was birthed!

For the past 25 years our God has used SOS Ministries to bring many daughters and their households to His Kingdom! The SOS women’s ministry is a safe place where women can come with all of their hurt, pain, and mistakes and be unconditionally loved. It is a love found through using God’s Word to encourage and forming loving relationships and accountability with women who model the description found in Titus 2. The spiritually mature, older women are teaching the younger women how to love their husbands and their children. Our women’s ministry holds a Bible study, an annual retreat, and ARISE breakfast. The retreat lets our women get way for a weekend in an intimate setting to meet with God and grow closer together. As an outreach, each of our women pray for a month for 5 friends that do not know Jesus and then invite them to join us for our Women’s ARISE breakfast with door prizes, worship testimonies and a Gospel Message! God is raising first generation Christians all over our city: Ladies that are hungry for God and determined to live out His truth to find Kingdom healing! These women are using Kingdom truth to break generational curses in their lives and the lives of their children. Prayer and God’s word are central in this ministry so that they might encounter God, and become living examples of Jesus in the world in which they live.

Here is one of our SOS ladies’ personal story!
“I was invited to a Friday Night Service at SOS on Facebook by an old classmate. She never went back after that night, but I continued to dig deeper. As a single mom after an emotional divorce, I was trying to find hope and purpose. I have to say that SOS Ministries is a place of miracles. To be in the atmosphere of God’s mercy and grace is very peaceful. His restoration power over the lives of the lost and broken is indescribable. The ladies in the Women’s Bible study group are amazing and show love and compassion to everyone that walks in the door. It is a sisterhood from Heaven. They are prayer warriors and will stand in the gap for you like no other. The support for one another is clearly one of iron sharpening iron. The Bible study lessons will equip you for not only warfare but strengthen your daily relationship with God. The discipleship ministry under Assistant Director Carmen Maxwell will mother you with God’s wisdom. She pursues you with God’s love and gently counsels with His tenderness. The transparency at SOS has no boundaries, and no one is ever considered too far gone. The invitation is to come and lock arms with not only others in this ministry but to also minister and serve the needs of our local community. In these times, this ministry has been on the front-lines. God has called His people for such a time as this. There’s no other place I’d rather be to help build the Kingdom than here at Save Our Streets Ministries!”

: Food Delivery

: Food Delivery

: On Location Training

: On Location

Give Now

BACK TO SCHOOL

CLOTHING AND SUPPLIES

As summer winds down, the time has come for children and teenagers to prepare to head back to school, which also means parents must begin the task of gathering school supplies and clothes for a new school year.
Preparing to go back to school can be a financial challenge, leaving many children and teens to attend their first day of school without the necessary supplies to have a successful year. At SOS, we strive to eliminate the stress of the season by doing our best to assist as many families as possible with their back to school needs. Each summer before school starts, we take families to purchase back to school clothes and supplies so they feel prepared to begin the school year. Whether it is purchasing new school clothes or essential school supplies, we hope to bless as many of our kids and teens as possible.
SOS is committed and willing to go to great lengths to see children and teens who are “at-risk” succeed. We believe that if we can help the children of SOS prepare for school, we are better equipping them to be a light for Jesus in their schools.
Would you consider partnering with us to help us provide back to school clothes and supplies for the kids at SOS? To be a part of helping our kids and teens prepare for school, see the insert or visit our website at: www.saveourstreetsministries.org/give.

Thank you for partnering with SOS to help our children and teens start the school year with all the supplies they need!

Did you know?

SOS is sending 20 Kids to camp this year! Thank you to the Marshall V. Ross Foundation for helping make this possible!

SERVANT’S HEART AWARD 2019
RECIPIENTS: FAITH MCGILVRAY + NEAL LEE

Each year at SOS, we recognize the faithful service of volunteers who are invested and dedicated in their area of service and show a true servant’s heart of selflessness as they minister to others. For the year 2019, we highlight the servant’s hearts of Faith McGilvray and Neal Lee. Join us as we recognize God’s blessing and work through each of these individuals! “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” John 13:15

FAITH MCGILVRAY is a junior Bilingual Education major at Texas A&M. She first heard about SOS her freshman year of college through Impact. Once she started volunteering, she loved it! For about 2 years now, Faith energetically serves with our Teen Ministry, After School Program, and assists with our Friday Night Worship. Her favorite thing about serving with SOS is “definitely all the awesome kids and families I get to meet! Everyone I have met through SOS has really become my community and family! Getting to be in a place to share the hope of Jesus with people I care about so much is a real blessing, and I personally have grown so much closer to the Lord while being at SOS!” We are thankful for all of the faithful work Faith has put into her efforts and the love she has spread to those whom she serves here at SOS!

NEAL LEE is a faithful servant using his God-given skills and talents for furthering the Kingdom of God. He first heard about SOS as a teen after hearing JJ speak. JJ’s message resonated with him since he grew up in a family who struggled with addiction. Years later in college, Neal built friendships with Kyle and Coach at church and would do plumbing work for them as needs arose. Getting ready to start the Vocational Training program, Kyle and Coach knew that Neal had the experience and heart for teaching trade and life skills that would to help get the program going. Neal has been able to volunteer with the Vocational Training program over the course of the year by helping write the curriculum for the first level of plumbing licensing and teach the classes. Neal’s favorite thing about serving at SOS is “Seeing the guys succeed and learn something new. I love the opportunity to build confidence into these men and let them know that God is there for them. Getting to provide support and encouragement and ask God to help them learn is so rewarding. I love seeing their joy as they successfully graduate from an intense and challenging program.” We at SOS are so thankful for Neal’s servant’s heart and faithful service to the Lord.

Upcoming Events

July 18

Women’s Arise Conference

July 13- August 3

On Location (Mondays: July 13, 20, 27 and August 3rd)

September 5

Volunteer Kickoff

September 21

Children’s Ministry and After School Program Begin

Save the Date

Mark your calendar for this year’s 19th Annual Banquet on Tuesday, September 29th sponsored by: KBTX Media!

Come Join Us!

Men’s Bible Study

Tuesday 7:30 p.m in person and on Zoom

Women’s Bible Study

Tuesday 7:00 p.m in person and on Zoom

Worship Service

Friday 7:30 p.m. in person and streamed on Facebook Live

June Newsletter 2020

06/19/2020 by Holly Stanfield

June 2020

Volume 27 Issue 3

Explorers: Pursuing God

ON LOCATION

S.O.S. On Location is an exciting summer outreach geared toward reaching kids with the love of Christ. During the school year, our halls are flooded with students and volunteers for our After School Program and Children’s Ministry, however, during the summer, our volunteers take the Gospel to the neighborhoods of our kids and bring the Word of God to the streets. It is an incredible outreach opportunity that has the ability to impact the whole family. Not only do the kids involved get to hear about Christ, but also parents and grandparents as they frequently join the children. This summer is unique as we face the challenges posed by COVID-19. Although some aspects may look different, we know that we are purposed to bring the Gospel to children & families who are searching and longing for hope; a hope that is greater than anything this world can offer in the midst of a global pandemic.

On Location takes place every Monday night beginning July 13th and ending August 3rd in various neighborhoods throughout Bryan and Hearne. We bring crafts, snacks, engaging Bible studies and exciting games to the neighborhoods as we share the love of Christ with kids ages 5-12. Each week, the kids hear a new Bible story, and learn more about how loved they are by both our volunteers and God. It is beautiful to witness the kids begin to trust the volunteers, and experience Christ’s unconditional love for them for the first time. In all of the activities during On Location, the common thread is God’s love, which transcends all boundaries. Differences in race, ethnicity, age, and socio-economic status seemingly disappear as God’s unending love is spread and experienced throughout the neighborhoods. On Location is also a great opportunity for our volunteers as they grow established relationships and build new ones with kids and display through their actions the incredible love of Christ. It is the kid’s hunger and thirst for this love and knowledge that keeps us coming back year after year.

This year’s theme is “Explorers: Pursuing God.” Jeremiah 29:12-13 says, “Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me. And I will listen to you. You will search for me. And when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me!” Our heart for this year is that kids would take ownership of their faith and seek out to know more of who God is. It’s our prayer and heart cry that they would find that He alone is the hope to anything they are facing. He alone is worth our heart’s affections. It is our prayer that they would learn to seek God’s kingdom and run towards Him instead of running to things of this world. We know that He offers grace, mercy, healing & joy and we pray that every child we serve would encounter this kind of love from Jesus. This summer, we believe that God will stir up the hearts of young children and raise up a generation of disciples who seek Jesus above all else & live on mission for the gospel.

This year, we desire to bring the hope and love of Christ to over 180 kids and are looking to impact 6 neighborhoods in the Brazos Valley, including Hearne where we currently hold a weekly Children’s Ministry. We are excited to see how God brings transformation and hope to the streets of local neighborhoods through the hearts of children.

Each year we partner with local churches to reach these kids, and as our reach expands, so must our volunteer base. If you are interested in volunteering for On Location, please email us at allison@saveourstreetsministries.org or contact the S.O.S. Office at (979) 775-5357. If you are interested in sponsoring a portion of On Location, please complete and return the enclosed insert.

Give Now

SOS BBQ Outreach

On Saturday, May 23, SOS distributed over 500 BBQ meals to people in local neighborhoods who are not typically reached. During this time when many families need help putting food on the table for their families. We, at SOS, want to let them know we are here for them. J.J. and a team of guys worked diligently all day to prepare and cook the chicken and sausage. Numerous volunteers arrived to help us with a variety of tasks including attaching flyers to boxes, filling to-go boxes with food, working the drive-through, delivering meals to the residents, and cleanup. Volunteers were able to connect and serve alongside one another and we were able to bless people in these surrounding neighborhoods. The Lord even blessed us with extra food to give to the homeless in our community. Those who delivered meals had wonderful stories to tell of their conversations and interactions with some of the residents. Here are some stories from the volunteers:

“A lady took one look at Johnny (from the Men’s Home) and said, ‘I like this.’ It was beautiful to witness how God has restored Johnny through SOS so that people he once knew saw light in him and said, ‘I want that for myself.’”

“After explaining [to a woman] that God loves her and we wanted to bless her in His name, the woman stood there with tears running down her face. She said she saw the cross on the SOS van, and she felt the Spirit of God and His presence. That is why she was crying. She told us there is so much darkness and this blesses us. We prayed for her, and we too felt His presence. We are so thankful we get to join God as He draws hearts to Himself!”

“We met lots of grateful, humble people. I experienced the generous heart of God, His extravagant love for the field that is ripe unto harvest, and the excitement of His unashamed Workers that went into the streets for whosoever with hearts full of His love…”