GreaseTrap....More Grace!

Don is cleaning the grease trap...yuck

This week has been a very busy week as we have taken in 2 new students!  The to-do list includes some not so pleasant tasks...like cleaning the grease trap.  The sink was draining very slowly and we were told to check the grease trap.  Don opened it up to find the nastiest most foul smelling nasty stuff ever.  He said it was by far the grossest job he has ever had to do, and that says a lot, since we lived in Africa for 20 years.

It dawned on me that the grease trap is like trying to hide parts of our life from God.  Our lives before salvation was like the prodigal son.  Luke 15:11-32 shows how the prodigal ran away from the very one who loved him with unconditional love.  The prodigal wanted the blessings from his father, but didn't want to stay under his authority.  He went into the world and spent all his resources until he was bankrupt and enslaved to the world.  He was eating and smelling like the pigs by the time he came to the end of his running.

The scales fell off of his eyes and he returned to his father,  thinking that his father would reject him or treat him like a slave, instead there was restoration and joy.  The Father sees those walking through the doors of The 180 Center exactly like that.  He has arms wide opened ready to embrace all who come to an end of themselves.  He is full of joy every time a student walks through the door of 180.  This is our mission and great honor!  

God has imparted supernatural strength and grace into our lives each step of the way.  God is on our side as we dive into the real ministry of restoration of broken lives.  This ministry has really given us a revelation of our utter dependency on the leadership of The Holy Spirit for everything! 

The following photos were from the AG 2015 district counsel that was held at Victory Fellowship this week:

Don is manning the table

Don praying for students and Debra manning the Mary's Song table.

There were awesome times of worship too!  Pastor Frank Bailey, the pastor of Victory Fellowship said, "I had Pentecostal theology without a Pentecostal experience".

Set a Fire Down In My Soul

Announcements:

The 180 Open House is this Sunday at 12:30!  Please stop by and see what we are all about!  There will be light refreshments served and you will be able to tour the facility.

There is a brand new website for The 180 Center, Restoration Center for Men!  It has all the information and application for 180 on the website:

The 180 Center website link

Thank you for praying for us as we join hands with Victory Fellowship to launch this brand new ministry, The 180 Center, Restoration Center For Men.  We thank God for all your prayers and support.  Click here for Victory Fellowship's online giving link. Designate the donation for Don and Mary Bryant   You can also mail checks to: Victory Fellowship 5708 Airline Dr., Metairie LA. 70003.

Click here to give a Missionary Gift through Paypal

An easy and secure way to give!

We are not able to send a tax credit through Paypal gifts, but God will surely reward you

New Beginnings in New Orleans

This is our first blog since arriving in New Orleans.  The move from Tanzania was a flurry of work to get 20 years of mission work in Africa into 2 suitcases.  We have been on campus of The 180 Center for nearly one month now. There are a few student-interns working with us to prepare for the first students of  The 180 Center.  

People ask me what exactly is The 180 Center, Restoration Center for Men.  The 180 Center is a twelve month residential faith-based program that teaches Teen Challenge group studies curriculum four hours daily in a classroom environment. We are committed to enabling and equipping those we serve to find freedom from addictive behavior, to become socially and emotionally healthy, physically well, and spiritually alive.The men also participate in a four hours of work detail daily to help them build better work ethics.
 

There will be an open house at The 180 Center, 134 North Broad New Orleans, Sunday April 26th at 12:30.  We will serve some light refreshments and answer questions as well as give a tour of the facility.  There are still a lot of things on the to-do list, but we are ready to do whatever it takes to get this baby rolling.

Friday was Don's turn to teach the lesson.  

Don and I are so thankful for the training we are getting from Debra McNabb and Pam George.  It is a lot of work to keep a program like this running, so we are taking it one step at a time and learning from the best.

I just got back from a Women's Fasting Retreat.  Mr. Peacock put on a show just for me on Saturday.  I thought you might enjoy to see a little bit of what I saw.

God is so good!  We expect to share lots of testimonies of men who have been changed and set free!  Don and I are still full-time missionaries and ask for your continued prayers as we obey God's direction in our ministry.  

Thank you for praying for us as we join hands with Victory Fellowship to launch this brand new ministry, The 180 Center.  We thank God for all your prayers and support.  Click here for Victory Fellowship's online giving link. Designate the donation for Don and Mary Bryant   You can also mail checks to: Victory Fellowship 5708 Airline Dr., Metairie LA. 70003.

Click here to give a Missionary Gift through Paypal

An easy and secure way to give!

We are not able to send a tax credit through Paypal gifts, but God will surely reward you