Anawim Christian Community: December 2011

Anawim Christian Community is a community church made up of the homeless and the mentally ill. Our main goal is to provide for people's needs (including the need to be a disciple of Jesus) where they are at. We don't feel that a person needs to be something different before they get the help they need. Our center is in Gresham OR, which is where we lead and organize day shelters and a worship service. We also have a community house in N. Portland where housing is being provided for a few people and opportunities for community worship. We are connected to ministries in SE Portland and St. Johns, where we distribute food and clothing. And finally, through the internet, we educate people from almost every country in the world about homelessness, mental illness and the Christian response to each.

AnawimCC.org

Thursday, December 15, 2011

What Should I Do?

I know all of you would just love to donate to Anawim. After all, we are so cool and we help so many cool people. And we do a mean Bible study.

So you're sitting there, thinking, "Man, those Anawim people are so awesome. I'd like to give them something. But what should I give them? And how do I get it to them because I live so far away?"

Well, friend, YOUR TROUBLES ARE OVER! (Hurrah! yells the crowd)

Today, yes, TODAY, Anawim now has an online store that will solve your donating needs!

Go to this link-- yes, I say it is a link and this is why it is brown-- and look at our Amazon Anawim Store!

You say you want to help our homeless people with some camping gear, but you don't know what or how? Go to the store and we have some tents and tarps and sleeping liners selected just for your convenience and at a reasonable cost! You say you don't know what a sleeping liner is, well go to the store and find out!

Every selection will send you to a link in Amazon which will give you a description of what you are looking at! What more can you ask for?

And there's more! Yes! Food and clothes and yes, even office supplies! All selected for you to meet the needs of both the Anawim poor and your pocketbook! Woo hoo!

To send the items to Anawim, you order them in the shopping cart-- CONVENIENTLY PROVIDED-- and purchase the items then have them sent to our address-- 3733 N Williams Portland, OR 97227. IT'S THAT EASY!

Finally, after all that shopping you are probably worn out. You need a break. No, even better, you need a spiritual uplift! Well, we even have that very need in mind for you-- yes, you, our donor!

Check out our section of recommended books, movies and music selected with YOU in mind!

Needless to say, going to Anawim's store at Amazon is a truly remarkable experience that you will TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT (subliminal message provided free of charge)

Of course, if you just want to give us a boring donation, like money (pssst-- we like boring),then you can go to our site and it will tell you what to do.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Anawim Artwork and Poetry

The Anawim folks are a talented group, but often they don't have the resources to use their talents. Yvan Strong, our worship minister, is an artist in her own right and has established the Anawim Art Studio. The studio is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays for the Anawim folks and people from the community at large to create art using a variety of media with Yvan to

tutor, if necessary. In this month's newsletter we are highlighting some of the art and poetry created by Anawim folks. If you would like to receive our newsletter, participate in the art studio, or

donate to it, please contact us at anawimcc@gmail.com

Artwork by Yvan Strong

Website: http://www.tinidril.com/

Untitled

(A poem by a regular attender of the Sunnyside Meal

on Friday nights)

Today can be whatever yesterday was not.
Today can become

anything yet unsought.
So let yesterday have its space in time
Or today will become only yesterday's mime.
Such wondrous

possibilities await in

today
Awaiting to become what will be yesterday.
-Pat Kiser

Artwork by Yvan Strong

Community

John Doe

(A poem by Patty, a grandmother who lives in her car with her four cats,

And a member of Anawim.)

Winter is chilling to the bone

to those who live without a home

they travel here they travel there

they pass us by but do we care?

For proud is the man who has nothing left

'cause he sees his misfortune as just another test.

But the chilling cold shivers the spine

so he gathers his warmth from a bottle of wine

Just a drunken bum out on the road

Early in years his face looks old

with only a dollar to his name.

Just a drunken bum- should he be shamed?

What can one buy when the price is high?

Will anyone see him if he should cry?

Tonight the Rain dampens his head

As rumor disclosed another friend dead.

Beaten by those who are never without

"Only a bum" did they shout

As angels of mercy reach down for his soul

He sees himself a man who once had a goal

The pain removed at last he's free

he smiles down upon you and me

forgiving strangers who continue their wrong

at last he is home where he always belonged

huddled in darkness with his bottle of wine

he remembers a man he knew for a time

a man such as he put to the test

sipping slowly he awaits eternal rest

to come each and every night

Just a drunken bum we see in the dawn's early light

Just a drunken bum begging for more

"Get away you-- stay away from my door--"

Donny "The Ham"

Card by Tina

Lighthouse by Linda

Melted Crayon Rainbow by Alex

Repentance

Photo taken by Dennis Herron

Repentance

(A poem by Diver, who lives on the street in Gresham and Portland)

I wanna follow Jesus I wanna bear my cross
Repent what I have done
Regret what I have lost
Admit when I've done wrong
Confess all of my sins
I leave my worldly walk
My walk with God begins
I try to right my wrongs
In every way I can
First before my Father
And then my fellow man
Mend my relationships
With family and friends
Replace the bad with good
On this my soul depends
Reconciliation
Christ Jesus holds the key
To everyone's salvation
70 x 7
My sins are forgiven
Overcoming suffering
Pray I'm purpose-driven

Everyone is born to sin
I'm not judgin' I'm just sayin'
Good News! Jesus is comin'
We'll see everybody prayin'

Prayer and Praise

· Three homeless couples in Anawim have obtained housing. They are all looking for work. Two of the women are also in college, getting their GEDs. We are seeking donations for their schooling.

· Looking over this last year, a number of people have found work, some have turned away from drugs and alcohol, some have turned away from violence to seek lives of peace. This is all the work of the Holy Spirit in the midst of Anawim.

· At the same time, many more people have become homeless. Every week we hear of at least another person who is on the street, or living in their car. More people are using the services of Anawim than ever before.

· We have received so many donations this year that our folks are mostly prepared for the winter.

· However, the churches involved in the day shelter did not obtain permission from Gresham to raise the temperature of opening the shelters. So we are not allowed to open unless the temperature is lower than 25 degrees, even though the threat of hypothermia is much higher than that. Please pray that the city would soften their hearts on this matter.

Donations

In the Winter, our bills increase as the need increases. Please consider donating financially to Anawim so we can continue to provide the warmth, showers and shelter that people need throughout the year, but especially in this cold season.

http://www.nowheretolayhishead.org/support.html

Other donations which are needed are:

Sleeping bag liners

Hand warmers

Men's clothes

Shampoo

Coffee

Tarps (brown or green)

Donations can be dropped off at Sanctuary 19626 NE Glisan Street, Portland 97230
on Wed 1-7pm
Fri 2-5pm
Sat 10-3pm