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Newsletters>
Special Assignment: Face of Hunger, Face of Hope
March 7, 2008
In October of 2007 I accepted a position with the Central
Missouri Food Bank as a Community Resource Developer.
This ministry, which feeds over 85,000 people per month, is
located in Columbia MO. They serve 145 food relief agencies
in 33 counties of Central and Northeast Mo.
I am especially working in the top 12 counties in the NE
corner of our state which we call NEMO, (North East
Missouri). In this postition I am able to make sure that
the voice of the poor in this area is heard.
Jesus is our example, and he ministered to those who had
needs around him. It did not matter whether they needed
forgiveness, healing, provision, or food, He met their
needs. He even said that He had been 'annointed to preach
the gospel to the poor'. He once said to the disciples that
'the poor will be with you always'. His admontion was to
ensure that they would keep their eyes and ears open to the
needs around them. He taught them that they ministered to
Him when they ministered to the needs of the very least
those among them.
Although I have been a pastor and church planter for over
30 years, I feel that I am still learning about ministry.
My eyes have been opened to the needs of people that live
right next door to me. I realize that over time I became
narrow minded because I spent so much time thinking mainly
of the needs of those who were members of my church
community.
God is challenging me to search the highways and by-ways to
find the lost and forgotten ones. They often recieve
judgement rather then mercy from the church. The church is
usually the last place they will go because they are made
to feel so uncomfortable there. I want them to know that
Christ loves them and wants them. His house was built for
them!
Psalms 68:5-6 describes our God in this way... "A father to
the fatherless and a judge for the widows, is God in His
holy habitation. God makes a home for the lonely: He leads
out the prisoners into prosperity,". In other words, God's
house or habitaiton is to be a home for the lonely, the
fatherless, the widows, and those who are prisoners. I want
His church to reflect this description of what it is to be.
This change has affected my ability to travel widely... I
am not able to be gone as long as I once was because of the
new responsibilities that are pressing upon me. I have been
blessed with an opportunity to make a difference in the
region where I was raised, and where my ministry has been
centered for over 30 years. While I am still traveling
and ministering often, it is usually a little closer to
home. I have asked some of my colleagues to pick up the
slack by hosting some of the Tyrannus seminars for me and
they have agreed to do so. A new schedule for 2008 will be
out soon.
Most of my speaking now is aimed at raising awareness of
the needs of those who are hidden from sight. I have been
working with churches who want to expand their ministries
to the broken, the poor and the hurting. Please pray for me
as I endeavor to fully follow the course that God has laid
out for me. Thank you, and may God's richest blessings be
upon each one of you. Please feel free to e-mail or call...
you are important to me and I want to make sure that we
stay in touch.
Steve Youngblood
660-342-5208
steveyoungblood2@aol.com
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