Hoskins Park Ministries

Hi Life Group Leaders and Impact Champs,

Here are the current Life Group Leaders that have responded to my recent email saying they are serving Hoskins Park / Blessing In The Storm.

So, if you are a life group leader serving Hoskins and you are not on this list below, please let me know who you are! Or if you know of a life group that is not listed but serves Hoskins, please send me the leader of the group and their email address so I can follow up! I think we have closer to 50 LG’s serving us! So le’ me know! Thanks everyone! Hope you have a blessed day today remembering God is in control! -Tom

Group Leaders Serving Hoskins Park Ministries
Kenn Houston
Chip Moon
Russell and Caylene Brown
Jen Young
Rankin Nimrocks
Rayo Daroowalla
Brian Martin
Kasey Smith
Hu and Sherrill Harrill
Karen Boffi
Laura Paszko
Marty Tynan
Bill Butler

Attention Life Group Leaders and Impact Champions! We are trying to update our Group database and need some help from you! It will only take a minute.

If you are a Life Group Leader or if you are an Impact Champion, could you please email both Paige and Tom and let us know who you are as soon as you get this. Just your name will help start this process.

If you are the Life Group leader, could you also please include a roster of your members? We just need their names for now but will take whatever other information you have on them. If you have to get us just your name first, that is fine. The roster can follow at a later date but hopefully fairly soon.

This is important for us and will help us a lot with communication and organization! Since we have an event on April 5th, the sooner the better with this information!

Thanks in advance! We appreciate you all! -Tom Wheeler, Exec. Director, Hoskins Park Ministries.

Students from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary - Charlotte  recently visited Hoskins Park Ministries.  Their comments are below.

Dear Tom, Johnny, Loretta, and Edwin,
 
Last Monday was such a rich visit for me and our students. I’ve appreciated watching the ministry grow from its earliest moments. There’s so much to celebrate and you’ve only just begun! Here are a few of the comments of appreciation from our students. They were obviously blessed. Thank you so much for taking the time to open your hearts to them.
 
Thank you so much for giving us the chance to come visit Hoskins Park Ministries. I was very impressed and humbled by the ministry God has built up there. I admired the spirit you lead with, your willingness to give so much grace, over and over again, to the men and women in your care. I was struck by the perspective you shared about putting ourselves in their place, and family, that if they were your family you wouldn’t put them off no matter what they did… and they are family, so why would we do any less? And has God done any less for those of us who are so quick to set ourselves up as judges? It is a lesson, a lifestyle, I want to learn better. And you modeled it very well. Thank you again for the time you shared with us. It really blessed me, and gave me a lot to ponder.  Preston
 
Hoskins Ministries,
Amber and I loved the visit. It was such a blessing to meet Tom, Johnny, Loretta, and Edwin to see how God can work in peoples lives if we surrender to His will. I pray that God will continue to bless your Ministries and all that you do.
God Bless,  Grant and Amber
 
Tom, Johnny, Loretta and Edwin, 
Thanks so much for enlightening me on the incredible works of Hoskins Park and Blessings in the Storm.  The lives that are forever changed because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and your love shown to them were awesome testimonies.  May God continue to meet your every need and desire as you continue to serve his children. 
Valerie M. Williams
 
Thank you for that opportunity to visit Hoskins Park on Monday night. I had been there before to help out, but I had never heard how it started or the spirit behind it. God has done some amazing things in the lives of the leaders and I appreciate the opportunity to have heard about them.
Bethany Nelson
 
Thank you all for sharing the Hoskins Park Ministries vision, mission, and testimony with us.  It’s really unfortunate that most of us were stunned to silence as we reflected on the genuine faith and trust that you all have in our God.  We’ve visited so many sites that have “programs” in the name of God. Though many of them are indeed flourishing, your ministry is the first that I’ve visited that’s mission is true discipleship and haven’t put God in a box.  I’m sure that there are alot of silent and somewhat scary times when you make the decision to depend solely on God… but wow…. just look at the results!  I could go on and on… but just… thank you for letting us be apart of the work that God is doing in that neighborhood.  I can honestly say that your family (current & future) will continue to be in my prayers.  In Christ w/ you,  Kenyada Gill.
 
I really enjoyed the ministry vist we had tonight.
The thing that made the biggest impression on me was the compassion that was shown to the people being ministered to.  I could see the appeal in such a ministry to make strict rules for the particpants.
This vist opened my eyes to a way of doing grace filled ministry. I left feeling encouraged about God was doing through this ministry.God Bless, Tim Carey
 
 I really enjoyed our visti to Hoskins Park.  It was one of the most moving visit I have attended since I joined Urban Ministry.  I haven’t stopped talking about it.  Everyone was so genuine and spirit filled.  I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit when I walked on the grounds.  Tom, Johnny, Loretta, and Edwin were so inspiring.  I left there questioning what can I do to make such an impact on a community whether in charlotte of elsewhere.  I pray God’s blessing and His will for the staff and the residents.   Thank you for your time and caring spirit.
Vea
 
What a blessing your ministry has already been to me even though I just met you.  I heard about your ministry a while back and have been wondering about it ever since. 

The pieces that have fallen into your ministry, God’s ministry, are nothing short of blessings and so much more than mere chance.  Your devotion speaks volumes and your passion continues to churn inside my heart and mind, for though it may not be for me to jump into right now, your devotion and passion have taken me one step closer to understanding God’s mission for the lost and the hurting.

A surge of adrenaline rushes through me when I think about the changes that have taken place where you are.  It is those types of changes in character and lifestyle prompted by the love of God that really make those verses, psalms and songs about shouting and dancing for the Lord come alive.  Those houses and lives that you are helping to change for the better sing of God’s greatness and control.  I like the way you have just let God work and shape your ministry instead of putting it in a box and labeling it a program with 12 steps.  You have something great and I pray God blesses it more than you can imagine and protects it with great care. 
Peace and blessings on your ministry, Jordan

I was so blessed and humbled by the earnest felt servant-hood you provide for all those in need at Hoskins Park. Thank you for your transparency in the things you face. May God bless you richly for your sacrifice and dedication. You inspired my heart. You are truly an extension of God’s love for his people.  This world is truly a better place because of you. I pray I serve with the same fervour and spirit.  Thank you again,  Benita Nance
 
Thanks again,
Tim

Timothy S. Laniak, Th.D.
Professor of Old Testament
Coordinator, Urban Ministry Program
Mentor, D.Min. Christian Leadership Track
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary - Charlotte
14542 Choate Circle  Charlotte, NC 28273

For any of you who need a bible study for yourself or for your group, you may want to consider “Experiencing God” by Henry Blackaby. We are doing this as a staff and as a Board of Directors and I highly recommend it! It is a daily (5 days a week) study and lasts for 12 weeks.

The study may help you understand how to hear from God, give you clarify with difficult decisions, understand what it means to join God in His work rather than asking God to join you in yours, explain the role of the church in your life, and other important areas that help you develop and understand your relationship with Jesus Christ. Again, I highly recommend it! This is my forth time doing the study and God always uses it to speak to me about very critical issues in my life! He has done it again this time and I am grateful to Him for His grace and clarity.

I have felt led to share this with all of you in the event that some of you were searching for a study or help with one of the topics I mentioned. If so, please, go for it! If not, thanks for reading the email! Pass it on if you know someone who might be interested in this study.

You can find the work book at LifeWay Christian Bookstores (locations below). And remember to ask for the work book rather than simply the book. Thanks everyone! May God bless you, today! In Him, -Tom

Charlotte NE LifeWay Christian Store
The Village at University Place
8821 J. W. Clay Boulevard
Suite #4
Charlotte, NC 28262
Phone: 704-503-5012
Fax: 704-503-5019
Hours: Monday-Saturday 9:30 A.M.-9:00 P.M.

Gastonia LifeWay Christian Store
Franklin Square Phase III
3726 East Franklin Boulevard
Gastonia, NC 28054
Phone: 704-823-8200
Fax: 704-823-8222
Hours: Monday-Saturday 9:30 A.M.-9:00 P.M.

Pineville LifeWay Christian Store
The Centrum
10412 A Centrum Parkway
Pineville, NC 28134
Phone: 704-541-5033
Fax: 704-541-3701
Hours: Monday-Saturday 9:30 A.M.-9:00 P.M.

Hi everyone,

Looks like the enemy is back to his tricks. Could you please pray for God to cleanse our ministry of evil, bring whatever is in the darkness into the light, bless us to continue to do His will, empower us, and give us the strength to continue to persevere. Things are a big rocky right now!

Thanks! -Tom

Thanks to a donation from a Morten and Lori Andersen we no longer have the expense of purchasing paper plates and flatware to serve dinner at Hoskins Park.

There is a place setting for 50 people stored in the conference room closet to the right. The dishes are stored in 4 clear plastic containers in the closet, just ask the person on duty that night to show you where if you are not sure where to find these dishes. These are just for Life Groups to use. Please clean and store back in the closet when you finish.  Please be as diligent as you can to make sure the men do not leave the premises with the dishes, the supply will dwindle very quickly if we do not try to keep these dishes on site at 107 Cromer.  

Each Life Group will still be responsible for the food and drinks. Bottled water works pretty well.

Please check with Paige for the menu items, Lasagna is great and easy, but 3 nights a week is a little much!

We also need a Life Group to handle the 3rd Monday of EACH month to pick up a free dinner from Roosters at South Park. The only expense you have is the pick up and drinks.

Roosters has also volunteered to provide Blessings in the Storm with the same FREE dinners. All Mondays are available for this service opportunity.

Please contact Paige Vestal at 704-400-9755 for all questions and schedules.

May God Bless you all.

Bill Dinkel
704-488-2488

We would like to invite each Life Group Leader and/or Impact Champion to a planning meeting at Forest Hill Church in the Charis Room on Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 6:30PM. Light refreshments will be served.

The purpose of this meeting is to:

Prepare a Resource Pool of Talent. Please bring a list of your Life Group Members Occupation or Special Talents. The list should include names, email addresses and telephone numbers.
This will be used to better partner your Life Group with HPM and Blessings.

Review the 2008 Special Events Calendar.

Establish the 2008 Saturday Work Schedule.

Create Volunteer Committees to help with continuing projects.

We are still celebrating the fellowship enjoyed by everyone in 2007 even as we plan for the opportunities of 2008.

Please click here to RSVP to Bill Dinkel.

Thanks you so much and God Bless you all.

Bill Dinkel
704-488-2488

If you have not already done so please register your Food Lion MVP card.  If we do not get 25 people registered in the next 7 days Food Lion will delete Hoskins Park from the organization list.  The link is below and it only take a few minutes.

Here is an easy way to help out Hoskins Park every time you shop at Food Lion.  By registering your Food Lion MVP card you can earn money for the ministry.  See the paragraph below that describes the program.

What is LionShop & Share?

LionShop & Share is the easiest, most convenient way to raise money for your local not-for-profit organization. Each time you shop at Food Lion and use your MVP card, a portion of your total grocery purchase will be donated to the school, church or other local not-for-profit organization you have selected. Food Lion knows it is important to be involved in the local communities in which it serves, and Lion Shop & Share is our way of helping you help your community grow and prosper.

Click here to be taken to the registration page.  Once there click on the Select Organization tab and a pop up window will appear (you must have pop offs blockers turned off or you will not see the window) and you will be required to enter your state of NC and your city of Charlotte and then you can choose your organization, just scroll till you see Hoskins Park Ministry. 

Choose the ministry as your organization and you will be prompted to enter you 12 digit MVP card number, (make sure you enter all 12 digits, those 2 very small numbers at the beginning and end are part of the string) along with other information.  Submit and you are done.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to email Paige

Hi everyone,

We need 48 volunteers to help with the Shamrock 4 mile run on Saturday, March 15th that Hoskins Park Ministries is sponsoring!

If Hoskins Park Ministries provides the volunteers they write us a check at the end for supporting/sponsoring this event. And since Run For Your Life is so good to us, we want to support them when they need us and they need us!

We will be able to provide about 20 men/woman from the ministry. So we need Life Groups to come up with about another 30 men/woman. We will need you from 6am-11am that Saturday.

Once we get the volunteers we will inform you of your duties.

Please help if you can. We need you!!  If you can volunteer for this event click here to email me your availability.

Thanks everyone!

Blessings! -Tom

Thank you all for the continued support of this rapidly growing Ministry.

To update you on the Pantry at Blessings in the Storm, they are out of everything. Blessings serves over 20 women and children and are in need of everything from the list below.

Hoskins Park, in addition to the list below, is out of soap, toothpaste, razors, shaving cream, shampoo and deodorant.

All Pantry donations for both Blessings and Hoskins Park should be delivered directly to Hoskins Park at 107 Cromer Street. Donations may also be dropped off at the storage bins in front of the 2nd floor office door at Forest Hill Church.

Please call Paige Vestal at 704-400-9755, or email her to arrange a delivery.

Thank you again for all you do and God Bless you.

Bill Dinkel