Southland Blog

When you participate in Assurance for Life's Baby Bottle Blessings, you enable Assurance to: 

• Provide free ultrasounds and pregnancy testing to nearly 1,000 girls and women a year.
• Save well over 200 babies each year, and their families, from the devastation of abortion.
• Offer healing and hope to men and women suffering the agony of post-abortion pain.
• Share the grace and love of Jesus to all who enter our center.

It’s so easy, here's how it works: 

1. Pick up a baby bottle or two as you leave services on May 12/13.
2. Fill the bottle with any cash, change, or check.
3. Bring it back to church on Father’s Day weekend, June 16/17.

Assurance for Life, Inc. began right here at Southland 27-years ago, through the amazing efforts of former pastor Wayne Smith and several members. Over the years, hundreds of Southland members have served at Assurance as volunteers, board members, on project teams, as staff and many other ways. In addition to your bottle blessings, Assurance has ongoing needs for volunteers, both men (especially men) and women, in a number of roles. If you would like to know more about ways you might be able to make a difference at this unique, life-giving ministry, go here to see the opportunities.

When you invest your time, talent or treasure in Assurance you have a direct impact on shaping lives and souls.

When I think of the time I spend serving with a great group of woman and men several times a month, the word that comes to mind is simply LOVE. Everything Jesus does comes from his heart. He died on a cross for YOU and for ME and For EVERYONE who graces this Earth. The unfortunate truth is that some of our brothers and sisters have never heard of Jesus; some have strayed; and some feel they are not worthy of his love or his light.

For me, the realization that there are people who truly feel unworthy and unimportant is what led me to step out of my comfort zone and listen to the voice that kept telling me, “This is what you need to do.” I told myself I couldn’t possibly take on one more commitment. That worked until God simply opened more doors and I realized some of the things filling my time actually didn’t need me as much as I thought. There’s a huge difference in being busy and actually spending time with someone and truly being the only light they see that day.

We are all sinners. We all make mistakes. We all fail. We were all created beautifully for God’s purpose and most importantly we’re all deserving of love and capable of giving love to others. When I think of a woman having little hope, little money, kids to feed, no one looking her in the eye, and no one hugging her without expecting something in return — my heart aches and my eyes are no longer dry.

The only difference between me and those I serve is the fact that I have found Jesus and I know he loves me! God gave to me so I could give to others. I am blessed he gave me the voice, the strength, the heart, and the compassion to go to these women I would probably never cross paths with otherwise — to simply LOVE them.

I began in this ministry believing I would be able to bless and help another mother find her way. Through serving, I have also gained spirit-based friendships, and a true realization that until you meet someone where they are it is impossible and unfair to assume making any choice is simple. I have witnessed the love of Jesus all around me. Serving is not something I do. Serving is giving Jesus praise for all he has given me.

Carolyn, Bruised Reed Team Member

Things are continually changing with the tornado relief efforts and there are ways you can help right now:

UPDATED 7, MAY A committee is now in place in Menifee County to evaluate long-term recovery efforts. Two new homes have been constructed, and several other projects are now complete including decking, porches and foundations to shore up several mobile homes. The next phase will include construction of several Habitat homes. If you are interested in working on those homes, please contact the dispatch center at 606-768-6452 - 6757 for more information.

UPDATED 20, APRIL The warehouse in Menifee County is in great need of bedding – single and double mattresses, box springs and frames in good to new condition.

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Volunteer
There is still clean up to do so you can help in that way on the weekends, but now they're looking specifically for:

• builders
• plumbers
• electricians
• building supplies
• use of heavy equipment

If you would like to volunteer through the week or on the weekend, please CALL THE DISPATCH CENTER at (606)768-6452.

Donated Items
A warehouse is now available to store donated items, so they're accepting gently used furniture, household goods, and appliances, (no clothing, food, or water needed!). Items must be in GOOD WORKING CONDITION. This means items are not damaged, broken, stained or torn. If you have donations, please call first for directions and times. Items should be taken to the Menifee County warehouse–not Helping Through Him. 

If you would like to donate items, please CALL THE DISPATCH CENTER at (606)768-6452 for drop off times and locations.

Financial Donations 
Checks should be made out to Menifee County Board of Education and sent to:

Menifee County Relief Fund
PO Box 110
Frenchburg, KY 40322

All donations will be tax-deductible and will be used to assist with travel, heating, building supplies and general living expenses for those most in need.

Gift Cards
Cards to Wal-Mart and Lowe's (no others, please!) are needed. Cards can be placed in the offering next weekend, dropped off at the main office during business hours or mailed to:

Southland Christian Church
ATTN: Tornado Relief Team
PO Box 23338
Lexington, KY 40523

Thanks for helping out in the four ways mentioned above! Please remember that NO food, water or clothing is needed at this time.

Watch the website and future weekend programs for updates and information on plans to assist in Menifee County. If you need further clarity, please contact the Local Outreach Team.

The High School Ministry had an amazing experience this last week as we all traveled to Menifee County to help clean up some of the tornado damage. The majority of our time was spent in cleaning up an embankment and the yard for a lady who lost her home in the tornado.

With two chainsaws, rakes, and a few shovels, we went to work! A high school group from Michigan had been working in this area for about three days and could not have been happier to see the help that our team provided. God was truly glorified not only through the work of our students and leaders, but also through their attitude and willingness to give every ounce of energy they had.

These students took some of their spring break and decided that instead of sitting around, they were going to make a difference! It is the fruit of leaders who have chosen to invest in the next generation.  As we build into the next generation, the next generation is building into those around them too. God has blessed not only myself and the staff here with wonderful student leaders, but also this community!

There is no doubt in my mind that we are going to see great things out of these student leaders in the near future. The kingdom will truly be blessed.

On the third day of relief work in Menifee Co. several members of the Bruised Reed delivery, security and food teams paired up with a team from Serve the City, another of Southland’s ministry groups. The dispatcher said not a day had gone by without someone from Southland showing up to help. One out of every five calls coming into the emergency line is a member of the church calling to ask what can be done.

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My second day serving in Menifee County took me to Tar Ridge — just a couple miles from Opossum Hollow. I met up with two other Bruised Reed Delivery Team members — Amber and Kathy — and their families and friends. Also joining us were a few of our new friends from Trane.

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It’s almost that time of year again: Spring Break!

Kids will be out of school April 2-6, and you can bet they and their parents will be looking for something fun and exciting to keep them busy.

This year, Southland is partnering with the Lexington Parks and Recreation Department to give kids a week full of great things to do at two different locations.

Volunteers are needed for two shifts:

• 10a- 4p at Dunbar Community Center
• 4-10p at William Wells Brown Community Center

Both programs will offer a fun line-up including various arts and crafts, games and various sports activities. This is a great opportunity to meet new kids and make a different in their lives. Flexible schedules available for volunteers: sign up for one day or for the full week!

For more information or to volunteer, please contact Jeff.

 

Menifee County, an area hit hard by the March 2 tornados, looked peaceful and untouched as I drove into the emergency center on Highway 460. “Where’s the damage,” I thought to myself. “Did anything really happen here?” And then, I was greeted by emergency dispatchers, members of the Army, and a Sheriff’s deputy - all of whom were so appreciative and I had only just arrived.

I was paired up with a group from the Trane plant in Lexington and sent to Opossum Hollow - one of the hardest hit areas. Intersections were all blocked by National Guard vehicles, so we had to sign in and get name tags and an escort into the Hollow. The security efforts were necessary because there had been folks with cameras and tourists coming in and getting in the way. There had even been thieves looking to take advantage of the situation.

When we arrived to the top of Opossum Hollow, my heart ached for the people below who had lost just about everything. We were escorted to one house that had actually been two mobile homes attached together by a short hallway serving as a canning room. All of the walls were down and their belongings were strewn all over the place.

Most of the family was in the house when the tornado hit. The family still doesn’t know how the youngest son survived the storm. When the canning room walls collapsed on the family they covered everyone and it kept them from being blown away. The son wasn’t in the hallway - he was in his room which was completely destroyed by the storm; but he appeared afterwards, also unharmed. Remarkably, not only were the seven family members untouched by the storm, but every pig, chicken, cat, and turkey were unharmed as well!

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Every week we fill backpacks with much needed food and encouragement for elementary school students in both Fayette and Jessamine county.

The pantry is getting bare and we could use your help filling the shelves so we can fill backpacks. We have a shortage of raisins, microwave meals, and individual mac n cheese cups/packets. Any help is appreciated so drop off donations:

1. In bins outside Building E, Worship Center before or
2. after services or in the drop off room in Building M 8am-8pm daily.

Please remember: No glass, cans, family-sized items or perishables.

For a complete list of needed items go here

As we enter into the season of Spring Cleaning, please remember Helping Through HIM is open to receive donations of furniture, appliances and vehicles everyday at Building N 8am-8pm.

We currently have a major need for the following items:

• Washers
• Dryers
• Dressers
• Kitchen tables and chairs
• Clean mattresses & box springs
• Appliances
• Any type of vehicles you are able to donate

We are receiving calls daily for assistance. Keep in mind that we want to show people they’re valued and help restore their dignity. A good rule of thumb is if you wouldn’t give the item to your best friend, don’t donate it to Helping Through HIM.

There are many opportunities to help, and many communities that have been affected. We are receiving requests daily for information, and realize Southland members have family and friends in virtually every affected area.

Following comprehensive on-site assessments in a tri-county area (Magoffin, Morgan and Menifee), Southland has decided to focus disaster assistance efforts in the Menifee County area.

Menifee was chosen due to its proximity to Lexington, and our strong connections with local church, school and city officials. In addition, tornados hit the poorest parts of this already distressed community; and 90% of the families who lost their homes are uninsured.

Our efforts will be multi-faceted:

1. Financial donations. For those who wish to join us in focusing on Menifee County, checks should be made out to Menifee County Board of Education and sent to:

   Menifee County Relief Fund
   PO Box 110
   Frenchburg, KY 40322

   All donations will be tax-deductible and will be used to assist with travel, heating, building supplies and general living expenses for those most in need.

2. Volunteers are urged to go. There are unlimited opportunities for volunteers to serve in Menifee County from assisting with property cleanup to counseling and assistance with disaster relief paperwork. Calls from those interested in serving can go directly to the Dispatch Center at (606) 768-6452. Operators will provide information and connect volunteers with families and areas in need. Although no experience, skills or expertise are required, volunteers should be ready to provide information on any special skills or equipment they may have.

3. We will be collecting gift cards to Wal-Mart and Lowe's (no others, please!). Officials there have specifically asked us not to send material goods – they simply are not needed at this time. Cards can be placed in the offering next weekend, dropped off at the main office during business hours or mailed to:

   Southland Christian Church
   ATTN: Tornado Relief Team
   PO Box 23338
   Lexington, KY 40523

As with any assistance, we are looking at what we can do, as a church body, long-term. In the next few weeks more information will be available about how you, your family, life group or business can personally align with families in need. It is our prayer these efforts will serve as the foundation for long-lasting relationships between Southland and Menifee County families to help rebuild lives and homes. This will be a great opportunity to live out what we have heard Jon say recently: “Do for one what you’d like to do for everyone.”

Please watch the website and future weekend programs for updates and information on future plans to assist in Menifee County. Specific questions can be addressed to the Local Outreach Team.

As the news continues about disaster relief efforts in surrounding counties, we have had a lot of you email asking how best to help. As with any disaster, there are several stages of assistance.
 
Emergency supplies and food are currently being handled well by the Red Cross and Christian Appalachian Project. As with most disasters, they are requesting cash donations in lieu of material goods at this time. If you can help in this way, please contact them or log onto their websites for more information.
 
Red Cross
(859) 253-1331
 
Christian Appalachian Project
(800) 755-5322
 
In conjunction with the initial wave of emergency first responders, Southland is communicating with emergency management personnel, state police and other agencies to determine what the next step can and should be. Too often, numerous organizations and individuals collect and send supplies that are simply not needed and cause an undue burden on the affected areas. We are making a concerted effort to do what is best for our neighbors who are hurting.
 
Please watch the Southland website for updated information as it is available.

Mar ◦ gin ◦ al ◦ ize (v) : to relegate to an unimportant or powerless position within a society or group
 
Southland’s outreach ministries aim to impart dignity to people who are often on the fringes.  The reality is that many people in our community are marginalized because of their unemployment status, their lack of housing, or as a result of choices they’ve made.  But we believe that God has created every person with value and worth, and we want to help people realize their God-given potential.
 
God has the power to redeem our past and change our circumstances, and we want to walk alongside people as they come out of the margins and use their gifts to honor God and impact their communities.
 
Southland’s marginalized ministry serves homeless individuals through Room in the Inn and supporting local drop-in centers and shelters, empowers people through job training and interviews with Jubilee Jobs, and ministers to incarcerated individuals in area jails and prisons.  Interested in building relationships and encouraging people in your community in this way?  Contact Max Appel to learn more.

Anyone sitting outside a strip club on Wednesday nights in Lexington is likely to see three or four women piling out of a van with armloads of food, being welcomed by bouncers who yell, “Here come the church ladies!”

For seven years the managers and owners of these establishments have allowed the Bruised Reed team to serve a warm, home-cooked meal to the dancers and staff weekly.  Not everyone “gets it” -- there are folks in our church who don’t understand why they go, and many people inside the club who are just as confused by their presence.

But they go because Jesus went. Matthew 9:10-11(MSG): “Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew's house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus' followers. "What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riffraff?" Jesus, overhearing, shot back, "Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: 'I'm after mercy, not religion.' I'm here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders."

To continue this amazing ministry, they need to fill a number of critical positions. 

Apprentice Food Team Manager (work alongside current Food Team Manager and learn the food aspect of the ministry from top to bottom – must be very organized and love food!)

Food Coordinator (organize a food team to cook one Monday a month –must be task-oriented and have an ability to problem-solve!)

Food Intake Team Leaders (serve on site at the church, organizing food intake team, one Wednesday night a month – must be able to think on your feet!)

Food Intake Team Members (serve on a team at the church one Wednesday night a month – must be reliable and work well on a team!)

Security Team Members (serve one Wednesday night a month, helping the delivery team get to the club and waiting out side of the club) – must be reliable!

For more information about how you can start serving with the Bruised Reed ministry, contact Jani.

Our Hispanic church plant, Iglesia Nueva Vida needs your help with childcare during their small group meetings.

They're launching an in-depth study of Acts to train and prepare future leaders for kingdom work. This study is key for their community and church, making childcare a crucial need during this time! Members have been rotating out of the groups to watch children and are in turn missing valuable teaching and community. Bring your life group or come out solo and be a blessing to these families and children.

Serve from 7-9pm on Fridays (one or more a month). Spanish isn't a requirement since most of the children speak English. Feel free to bring your own activities for the kids, but you don't have to. 

If you are interested in helping out at Iglesia Nueva, contact Chal at carlos@invlex.org.