A Major Goal Achieved

This morning, I went to the mail-slot to pick up the mail for New Leaf Ministries. It's not unusual for us to have mail, you know the usual proverbial items; junk mail that ends up going right from the mailbox to the garbage can, a few things that get opened then tossed into the can, the bill for the business card or  an occasional donation or two as well. With the year drawing to a rapid close I went with the hope that there was more than just the average.

Reaching the goal to raise $5000 for the Assistance Fund by the end of the year, was turning out to be a pretty ambitious goal. This fund was created to help make counseling sessions affordable to everyone. Based on a sliding scale, going all the way down to ten dollars (and sometimes at no cost to those in dire need), the fund helps fill the gap between the cost to the client and the actual expenses of approximately $60.00 per session involved in providing this service.

Since its inception, ten percent of every undesignated donation goes to the Assistance Fund, which has helped it considerably, but since giving has been down considerably since early in 2008, the monies going into the account on a regular basis have been dwindling as well. With only small amounts going into the fund in October and November, it was decided by the New Leaf board that a Christmas letter should go out to help try and meet the shortfall and possibly our projected goal. A special thanks to a former client who was so willing to write a letter that could be used as a testimonial.

The problem was timing. Even though Christmas always comes the same time of the year, inevitably it always seems to creep up on me. This year it kind of sneaked up on me again. (Yes, sneaked is proper English... our area seems to believe snuck is the correct past tense version of sneak. I've even seen it in print in our local newspaper. It is not. Sneaked it correct, just in case you are concerned about these things.) Consequently, I found myself in the middle of December still trying to get out the Christmas letter. Not good timing on my part at all.

This morning, we received five generous donations, pushing us over the top. It's down to the end, only two days to spare, but we reached the goal with a total of $5063. I praise God for His unending love, and many generous people over the past year who have made contributions to achieve our goal. Thank you so much. God bless you all and I pray all of you have a wonderful New Year.


Mark Hurst

Pressing Forward

It's been a series of ups and downs this year. On the bright side we have seen some marvelous things happen in people's lives. Ministry-wise, I think in some ways this has been the best year. There are a lot of hurting people out there and whether it is the economy or life in general, but it seems that there have more referals this year from people who have been previously connected to New Leaf in some way in the past.  It's like I'm finally feeling that the word is spreading and people finally know we're here. We also are getting extremely close to celebrating our tenth year.  In two thousand and twelve, come July 1st, we will spent our first ten years striving to make a difference in people's lives for the sake of Jesus Christ. I look forward to this significant milestone for several reasons.

First, I think it's going to mark for us that we are striving to be in this for the long-haul, and not just a flash in the pan kind of thing. It takes time to build up a solid reputation as well as the financial support needed to run a ministry of this nature. During those past ten years, we have seen this ministry grow from a group of pastors gathering together saying, wouldn't it be awesome if.... to reality.... to a second office in Jamestown... to uniting with U-CAN for widening our scope and affectiveness.

Secondly, It has been able to help me fulfill a life-long goal of mine to be helping people in crisis mode, striving to make a difference in the lives of broken souls. I never dreamed it would be launching a whole new non-profit organization, but it has been a most fulfilling one.

Third, our family has enjoyed a stability in our lives we've never had before. Growing up as a "P.K." (Preacher's kid), it just always has seemed that every 3 to 5 years we would be pulling up roots and moving somewhere. In December we will have owned our home for ten years, and in June, we will have lived in the same place for ten years. For some who have lived all their lives in the same spot, it probably doesn't mean much to have such a thing, but one I don't take for granted. It has been a wonderful blessing being part of the Russell community and the local fire department there.

Blessings to all who read this today.

Mark Hurst

Rough Year So Far

I'm sure we're not alone. I can't imagine what some non-profit organizations are getting by with their finances right now. I have no doubt believing that many have already folded up shop. New Leaf Ministries is no acception to this challenge. Financially, it's been a rough year. But, I'm not going to follow the the natural course here. It's easy at this point to start begging for money. I'm going to avoid that temptation.

Instead, I'm going to praise the Lord. Why, you might ask? Because of a list of reasons. I am praising God for the mere fact that we aren't like so many who have had to close up shop. In fact, in many ways, we're still going strong.

Secondly, I'm going to praise God because I am absolutely thrilled with the connection New Leaf and U-CAN (United Christian Advocacy Network) have made in recent months. This shows so much promise for the future, working with people who have been preciously incarcerated has given a new focus to our ministry. Please pray for this continued growth in this development.

Likewise, our office in the Gateway Center has proven very adventageous for connecting with people in the Chautauqua, New York area, giving us a further reaching ministry.

Lastly, the reputation of NLM has continued to solidify. More and more people, many of which I only know on a professional basis or even not at all, have been making referrals to our facilities. Praise God.

A Great Network of Prayers and Intercessions

Sometimes progress in life seem slow and painful. We struggle. We strive. We strain. Sometimes we feel we do it all alone. We feel like no one is hearing our silent cries of pain and sorrow. What we aren't aware of is the workings of God under the surface; the host of people (along with the angels above) who are working behind the scenes praying and pulling for us.

I have been made keenly aware of this truth in recent days and weeks. I have struggled, along with a number of people who serve on the board of New Leaf Ministries, for a little over eight years, to make a difference in the communities of Warren and Jamestown. I have faced opposition. I have faced apathy for what I do. I have faced at times what seems like an insurmountable mountain between the reality of where we are and what I believe God's vision for this ministry. But in the midst of the struggles and sometimes painful reality of life, I am amazed at the network of people who have been praying for this ministry and the people who come for counseling and participate in it's various programs. I am humbled that so many have cared so much and have begun to share the vision as well.

God bless you all. You have no idea how grateful and moved I am that you would take the time to hold in prayer myself and the ministry I have devoted my life to these past eight years. I ask you as you pray, that you would direct those prayers to being in the center of God's will. If I stray from that, I will not only be out of the will of God, I will become a stumbling block to those who desire to be there.

God bless you.

Mark

God bless you.

Mark

As We Start the New Year

Two Thousand and ten has passed into the anals of history now and we have started a whole new year. We look at these marks of history with a sense of reflection and anticipation. For New Leaf, it marks the completion of another milestone and I praise God for every one along the way.

It's hard to believe that eight years ago at this time I went three quarter time at the Lander United Methodist Church to begin devoting some of my time and efforts to develop what is now New Leaf Ministries. My how the time has gone quickly. There have been many sacrifices along the way and it certainly would have been easier to stay in the ministry full time than to jump out of the "nest" and see where God was going to take me, but I also know I would have missed out on some of God's biggest blessing for me and the people I would touch because of my desires to be faithful to Him.

My prayer for you this morning as I type these words onto my blog is that you learn to take that same leap of faith, that you will leg God take complete control of your life and learn to trust Him in every step along the journey. I have not always done that, even as a pastor, but I feel as I make baby steps in that direction, God shows me his amazing love and support. I pray you would allow God to show you what He has in store for you this day.

God bless you in the new year.

J. Mark Hurst