Brian and Suzy Newman-the Isaac-Ishmail Initiative

   

30 December 2011 Dear Friends, I stood staring into the vastness of the western Sahara Desert wondering how people live in such a wasteland, with no water or vegetation.        For the preceeding week in late September a group of us had met with 16 Muslim imams in a refugee camp in western Algeria, just north of Al-Queda controlled land. It is truly a wasteland, and provided a reminder to me about religious systems such as Islam which ultimately lead people away from God rather than toward Him.        Brian has launched the Isaac-Ishmael Initiatve because of the simple fact that Jews and Muslims alike are lost in the desert without Jesus. It feels that we are embarcing a divine moment.        The year 2011 has been one of developing vision, creating partnerships, and obtaining funding. This is a unique "divine moment" and I believe 2012 is now on the launching pad. In February we will hold a gathering in southern France with 10 of us to make plans for outreach fo immigrants in Europe; In June we partner in a week-long training called Sahara Challenge in Minneapolis; In the summer we hope to partner with Serve the City and have a mission team go to Lebanon. You can find more information about the vision of the Isaac-Ishmael Initiative at our new website, which officially launches today. Click HERE. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. ~ Eph. 3:20-21 With Grace, in Christ, Brian and Susy

Christ's Body Ministries--Falling Through the Cracks

     Lynn worked as an Optician for 30 years until his first bout with congestive heart problems made retirement mandatory.  He still felt secure in his apartment covered by Medicare, with his monthly Social Security check and a small Air Force veterans pension.  But gradually the prescription copays (he now takes 22 pills daily) ate up his savings and then his rent.  Once he lost his apartment then the only housing option left was cheap motel rooms which still cost $30/night.  Within a few weeks, Lynn, for the first time in his life, was one day away from being homeless.  As he tells in his soft southern voice, "I finally had to swallow my pride."  He went to Pastor Miriam at his church, Trinity United Methodist, for help.  Fortunately Miriam knows us and our respite care program.  She called Deb and thankfully we had one open bed for him.
     Lynn has been at Christ's Body for two weeks, and wanted everyone to know how grateful he is.  He said, "Everyone here is so kind.  Deb has been very helpful and with her help I have gotten more help and more things done in two weeks than in the months before."  Specifically Deb signed Lynn up for a Medicare program that covers drug costs for low income patients.  She also has started the process for him to get Veteran's disability help and placed him on Colorado Coalition for the Homeless low-income housing program.  Lynn had no idea that such programs even existed, let alone how to apply for them.  Beyond the practical help, Lynn told me, "Deb has God in everything she does and you don't often see that in social workers."
     What a blessing it is when we can show someone like Lynn that God is real and cares.  Many times people fall through the cracks of man's social safety net.  We are grateful to our government for the help they do provide.  This help however is often very hard to access, especially when sick, without a caring hardworking advocate like Deb Butte.
     Lynn now hopes to be able to get his own place in the next weeks.  I told him we were pleased to have him as our guest and there was no hurry.  He replied, "Oh no, as soon as I can, I want to move out because there is someone else out there who needs this bed as bad as I did."
     Thank you for supporting Christ's Body.  You make it possible for us to be the arms of God catching those falling through the cracks.                    -John Moorhead

Caleb Home from India for Christmas

Caleb will be in Idaho Springs, CO for Christmas.  He arrives December 17 and stays until January 16.  On January 1,2012 he is the guest speaker at First Baptist Church of Idaho Springs at 9:30 a.m. Located at 100 Colorado Blvd. on the west end of town.  Take exit 239 off of I-70 and follow it to the church.  Caleb is looking forward to getting to see many of you. You can call him at 303-567-2711.  January 5 - 10 he will be in San Diego to visit Aunts, Uncles, & cousins.

The pictures below: National Costume Day at Woodstock School, Caleb on the summit (20,773 ft.), Camp before heading to the summit of Banderpunch in the Indian Himalayas. The highest peak in the picture.

Caleb wishes you a Merry Christmas and Wonderful New Year.