Several months ago, I met a man named Hosea.  He came to The Gateway looking for work and shared his story with me.  Hosea was in his 50’s and had been in jail since he was 18.  He had not been back to his native Puerto Rico in all of that time.

As we sorted shoes, I asked Hosea if he had found a safe haven since his recent release from jail.  His reply jarred me, “I don’t trust anybody.”

I wonder how many Hosea’s we have in our midst?  People who have been through the worst that life has to offer and now have no hope in their own lives?

Next week, our community has the opportunity to bring people to events that will have a life-changing impact.  These events are geared to specific topics that we all face daily.  Will you bring a Hosea with you?

Sally

Peaceful Living in a Stressful World

Thursday Nov 6 at 7 am and 4 pm

Friday Nov 7 at 8 am

5 Needs Your Child Must Have Met at Home

Friday Nov 7 at 6:30 pm

Youth:  Jump Start Main Event

with Grits and Chaos on Wheels

Saturday Nov 8 at 7 pm

All Events are at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena!

For tickets visit:  www.CommunityImpactWeek.com

Don’t you love the twinkle in a child’s eyes when Christmas is mentioned?  The anticipation is as enticing as the event itself!  That’s why every family needs to be able to afford their own Christmas!

We’re busily preparing the Christmas Shoppe at Helping Hands.  Trees are being fluffed, ornaments readied and the whimsical unpacked.  To make room for all these wonders, the Bag Sale will begin next week and run through the first week of November. 

Stop by and find some treasures of your own!

Sally

Greg Edwards, Chautauqua County Executive, stopped by to chat with Director Dale Peterson.  He dropped in on a busy day…a big load of lumber had just been delivered for the Skate Park flooring!

In Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby says we need to look for where God is at work and join Him there.  Have you come in for a visit yet?  You would be amazed at the constant activity that is happening.  Join us in God’s work here!

Sally

In his book, Mercy Beyond Measure, Kurt Salierno defines compassion as “being moved by someone else’s plight to the point of taking action.”  (p. 121)

In the months that I’ve been volunteering at The Gateway Center, I’ve observed this attitude from the director, Dale Peterson.  Dale takes time to look people in the eye when they talk, and to listen to what they say.  I’ve heard Dale ask about families and jobs and express concern over difficulties.  I’ve seen Dale take people to get mattresses or refrigerators.  He is a good model of compassion.

Do you know of someone who needs you to take action as their advocate?  Maybe they just had surgery; could you take a meal?  Maybe their car broke down; could you help with a ride?  Being compassionate may take you out of your comfort zone.  But if you take the risk to help your neighbor, then you will experience an outpouring of compassion that will bless you as well!

Sally 

For one more week, you can benefit from this zany offer!  Come down to the Helping Hands entrance and fill the bag of your choice.  We have suitcases to fill as full as you can get them!  The cost?  Depending on the size of bag or box, $1 to $3.00!

Melissa Jansen says, “Maybe you don’t watch your money as closely as I do, but remember that no matter what we have, we need to prudently use the resources with which the Lord has blessed us.”  (Are You Kidding, God?  Me, a Prudent Woman? p. 19)

Many people have generously donated their treasures for this great cause.  Help us help others, by supporting the Bag Sale!

When Lorna Perkins felt God impress her to move to western New York in 2002, she was a single parent with no job prospects.  But her employer at Dairy Queen believed in her so much that he gave her a bonus with his blessing.  So Lorna packed up her 15 year old daughter, their horse and all their belongings, and left Iowa.  From her occupation of decorating cakes at Dairy Queen, to painting a house and office for Gary Lynn, Lorna was introduced to Dale Peterson and The Gateway Center.

Lorna’s eyes sparkle when she talks about the overall vision for the Center.  She is quick to say she wants to bring glory and honor to God and to create subtle scenes of God’s beauty.  When you step closer to her art, you find something deeper happening…Lorna hides special items of creation in everything she creates!  Her respect for God’s World is represented in every area of the building because of her conviction that nature brings people to God.  “Look at where you focus your eyes when you are in your home.  We create beautiful walls with faux painting, and add furniture accents to make our homes comfortable, yet our eyes are drawn to the window where light and nature intersect to splash our world with beauty.”

That beauty is what Lorna seeks to develop at The Gateway.  There are many rooms yet to be defined, but you can be sure as their purpose unfolds they will include beautiful winged creatures, Lorna’s trademark.  The Skate Park even has three massive doves moving through the paint scheme.  She says the size of the rooms have been challenging.  Some days she works on scaffolding to reach the 12 foot ceilings.  But she enjoys the freedom to choose the direction the decorating will take.  The donations of paint and nice accessories from people’s homes have inspired many themes throughout.

Yet, all this work, and Lorna says, “It’s not about the building, but the people who enter it.  The Gateway Center is all about helping people.  My idea of a good day is when I have had an opportunity to talk to people about their choices, and to feel that I made a difference by listening.”

Lorna lives in Sherman with her husband of five years.  You’ll often find Tom working at The Gateway as well, as they endeavor to create an environment where people can come for encouragement!

Several youth groups gathered to paint at the skate park on June 7.  It was a joint community project to help prepare the walls before the flooring is completed.  Reds, blues and yellows create a bright color palate and will serve as inspiration to youth from all over the city.  The designs on the walls have been sketched in by hand, so that all the kids had to do was fill in with paint.  The result?  Giant-sized murals provide a lively, flowing atmosphere for a room that will echo with the constant motion of wheels and feet!

Youth Pastor Scott Smith said, “The kids like to serve.  They get excited about it!”

From their appearance afterward, they almost got as much paint on the walls as they did on themselves!  It was a great day together.

“Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”  I Corinthians 10:31 NIV

This is the Daddy of all Garage Sales!  And just in time for the end of summer hazy days. August 26-30, come to the garage area by the Helping Hands Store for a whale of a deal.  Buy a bag for a dollar or a box for two, and fill it as full as you can!  We’re working hard to get some great bargains ready for you to sort through.  The hours?  Tuesday through Friday, 10-4.  Saturday 10-noon.  Come one, come all!  What will you find?  shoes, sandals, boots, planting pots, decorations, candles, candle holders, purses, baggage, valises, pouches, scarves, ties, belts, hats, books, games, records, tapes, kitchen tools, napkin holders, file boxes, placemats, cloth napkins, coverings, frames, pictures, paintings, illustrations, mugs, tumblers, steins, goblets, plates, bowls, baskets, toys, baby items, pots, pans, cooking utensils, adornments, kitchen aids, platters, saucers, vases, photo holders, wicker, dishes, cups, glasses, knick knacks, potpourri, miscellany, hodgepodge, whatnots, whatever you can imagine!

While soup may not be your idea of a great meal on a hot day, it certainly brought people out for the St. Susan’s fundraiser!  Bemus Point proved to be the perfect location to host the Empty Bowl Lunch.  The combination of a beautiful view, entertaining music and delectable food served to be a fun event.  The chefs dished up the soups themselves, and turned out to be charming hosts.  Some of the wide range of flavors included Shrimp Bisque, Hearty Vegetable Soup, Italian Wedding Soup and Clam Chowder.  Volunteer Coordinator Sue Colwell was pleased with the response.  “It definitely needs to happen again next year,” she said.

The Gateway Center is located in a huge warehouse.  The myriad of levels provides plenty of area to spread out in many directions.  St. Susan’s Kitchen and eating area has been beautifully created in one corner of the building.  Helping Hands has access on the main level, as well as storage on the third floor.  The second floor will be home to the new Children’s Museum.  It also has a room artfully painted as a place for quiet reflection, which makes a perfect meeting place for area pastors to come on Tuesday mornings for prayer.  The Christian Archers Club has its’ own space, and a skate park is in process.

                        “If you build it, they will come!” --- Field of Dreams