I'm the Teaching Pastor for Prodigal's Home

It's official.  This Saturday, I will become the official teaching pastor for Prodigal's Home, the outreach and church for the homeless in north Sunnyslope (at SE corner of Central and Northern).  

Each morning, we feed about 150 precious people a delicious breakfast along with the Word of God.  Feel free to come and join us around 6:30 am for setup, 7:15 for food duty, 8 am breakfast serving, 8:30 service starts, complete with Communion and prayer.  

Jesus, in His first sermon, said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor.  He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord" (Luke 4:18, 19).  Come and join us, as we do the same.  "Go God!"

Preaching in Fountain Hills, Sunday, May 17

I apologize for the short notice, but... I have been asked to be the guest speaker for Four Peaks Community Church in Fountain Hills, on Sunday, May 17.   So, if you are free and looking for something to do ... and you want to come and share in some worship as family in the Lord ... we will be opening God's Word together and experiencing the presence of God  - come and join us at 10 am.  I know you will be blessed .. and, whatever you do, be sure to look me up afterwards because I'd love to see you!  "Go God!"

Adventures in Prayer Reunion

Special invite to all who have shared in the Adventures in Prayer Classes - tonight, 7 pm, at Chip and Amy Aker's house in Fountain Hills - come join us for a time of worship, prayer and a time of waiting in Jesus' presence.  Our Lord bids you to share in His presence, with His people.

"God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord ... eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him." (Ephesians 1:9, 2:9).

A Prodigal's Home: New Outreach to Children on the West Side

Got this exciting note from A Prodigal's Home Founder Mike Ricker:

I have a lot to learn.

Last Saturday Pastor Dottie Escobedo-Frank of Crossroads United Methodist Church told me a story of a group of extremely poor folks who could use help.  She told me of Pastor Vasquez, who has been leading a Bible study in the neighborhood he lives in.

Not your normal Bible study, mind you.  But one with a group of 60 children.  And in an area of extreme poverty.  One day about a year ago, before the Bible study started, a young boy asked Pastor Vasquez if he had anything to eat.  It was at this point the pastor realized ... many of these children were hungry.  So they began to feed these children, some of whom may not have parents even living in the U.S. because of the current political climate.

As I listen to Dottie's account, I'm wondering what part of South Phoenix these folks live in.  Then Dottie tells me. They are 5 miles from where I live in northwest Glendale.

At first I am "shocked" about the story.  Then I am saddened about my initial response of believing these folks live somewhere far removed from my neighborhood.

I have a lot to learn.

After our gathering for the homeless on Saturday morning, I decide to go meet Pastor Vasquez.  As I drive through the trailer park where he lives, I am stunned by the utter and abject poverty.

I knock on Pastor Vasquez's door, and his wife answers.  She summons her son to translate.  After a moment, she sends the boy away to find her husband.  I sense she knows why I am there.  I'm glad SHE does - because I'm still unsure as to why God has led me here.

As I talk with Pastor Vasquez, I learn he has been faithfully leading and caring for the children - nearly 60 of them, in this trailer park for some time now.  I ask him what he fed the children that morning.  He suddenly becomes silent, and I see pain in his eyes.  He tells me they couldn't raise the money.  I ask how they normally raise the money to do all this.  "Tamales," he says.

He and his family and a few others work throughout the week making tamales (his son works sometimes until 2 a.m.), so they can sell them around the neighborhood - in order to raise a total of $100 - so they can provide a simple meal to the children in his care.

He begins to weep.  His wife is crying.  The struggle is real.

I grab his shoulder and pray.  Then I reach into my pocket and pull out $100.

I let him know we will make sure these 60 children get a meal before Bible study on Saturdays.

I leave numb.  Unsure of what has transpired.  Angry that I've driven past this place for years and been unaware of what is going on around me.

I have a lot to learn.

Grace & Peace, Mike Ricker 

Jesus said, "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat..."  Want to help feed the homeless this weekend?  Come join us on Saturday morning, at Northern and Central, anytime between 6:30 and 9 am ... you will be blessed, as you will be a blessing.

Friday Night: Adventures in Prayer Reunion!

This Friday night (5/8/09) there will be an "Adventures in Prayer" Reunion in Fountain Hills.  It has been brought to our attention that many of the participants from the past classes are wanting the Lord to renew and kindle afresh the gift of the Spirit inside of them ... so they may be able to hear the Lord's voice fresh and new.  

If you have ever attended an "Adventures in Prayer" class, this is your opportunity to come ... worship the Lord ... wait in His presence ... and see what the Lord is going to do in our midst.  It's going to be exciting!

The class is at Chip and Amy Aker's house in Fountain Hills, at 7 pm.  If you need directions, please send me an email at Tom@HisTouchCommunications.com and I will send them to you right away.  We will also be praying and talking about the possibility of "where do we go from here?" - so we can continue to grow and encourage on another as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Come and join us for an evening of basking in the Lord's presence and receiving His love.  See you there!