News - 08042006

This will be a different type of newsletter this month. The Board of Helping Neighbors has decided to write this letter in order to give you a better understanding of the larger ministry of Helping Neighbors.

1. Helping Neighbors Worldwide Ministries is officially five years old in 2006! The IRS has notified us that our preliminary five year period has been completed and after filling out some additional paperwork we will be granted permanent Not-for-Profit status as a 501(c) (3) tax exempt ministry.
2. Helping Neighbors has twelve board members with an executive officer board of five members.
3. There are nine ministries that are currently supported and working with Helping Neighbors.
4. The Prayer Across America ministry has matured to an itinerate ministry to revive Churches.
5. Helping Neighbors is not just the Epperson ministry but has grown into a ministry of many people.

Historically people have thought that Helping Neighbors was just a continuation of Pastor Phil Epperson's pastoral ministry. In reality, Helping Neighbors was birthed by a handful of people coming together and talking about ways to carry out their ministries beyond the four walls of the Church. The initial meetings were held in 1998 with the working name of Resources International. The organization of Helping Neighbors Worldwide
Ministries was established with the State of Illinois and the IRS in 2001. Phil Epperson is currently serving as the President and Chairman of Helping Neighbors but in reality the Organization has grown faster and bigger than any one man can manage. Helping Neighbors is a ministry of many people called by God to carry out their ministries of accomplishing tasks and assignments that the Lord gives them for the Kingdom.

This year Helping Neighbors faced some maturity lessons due to its growth and forward momentum As part of this process our board went through reorganization and faced some tough opposition in that motive and intent were questioned. Board members were caught by surprise by the misunderstanding when the ministry was fulfilling the stated charter of "helping our neighbors". Overall, these experiences have been good because it
has caused the Board to do praying and soul searching Like a fire these experiences have caused us to ignite our passions anew for the Lord and using our talents and time for the Kingdom.

1. We have determined to show love when others are showing anger and motives are misunderstood.
2. We have determined to support a variety of ministries and people as the Lord enables.
3. We have determined not to argue with people but to pray and turn the other cheek when we are hurt.
4. We have determined to accornplish the tasks, assignments and opportunities that the Lord gives us.
5. We have determined to pray the Lord's best for those who do not understand our motives and intents.

We need your help and are asking you to do something RIGHT NOW! Enclosed is an envelope and reply card.
We need you to send the card back and tell us if you want to remain on our mailing list or to be removed from our mailings. We must be good stewards for the Lord with our mailings. If you do not want to receive our mailings, please tell us so that we can be more effective in using resources, volunteers' time, and so that we can redirect our efforts and energies elsewhere.

Your prayer and financial support are vital; the ministry could not function without our faithful supporters.