Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Jude 1:21-23
I read the verse above and my mind immediately begins to consider people who are really striving to make a difference in this world. I'd like to introduce you to two people who are doing just that. Their names are Al and Donna Halbert. They happen to be my mom and my stepdad. They are average people who live ordinary lives. They decided recently that they wanted to do something extraordinary for the Lord. They sold all they could and purchased a child care center in Leesburg, GA. God has miraculously blessed and they received the training and license they needed in weeks. Others in this field told them that it takes months to get what they got in weeks...SO we give the credit to God Who can do all things. The center was by no means operable. Everything had to be redone. Donna and Al did all the work themselves. Al posted the following message on the center's facebook wall yesterday:
Dear Friends,
The Potter’s Hand Learning Center is a faith based Christian Ministry sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with little children, their parents, and the Leesburg community at large. We have been on this journey for many months now and have been open to receive children since November 15. At the present time we are ministering to 5 precious souls in the name of Jesus. Our goal is to carry out the Great Commission as we are going in this world. Donna and I have invested our savings, our retirement, we have sold some of our possessions, and our family has contributed money, time, and services to this ministry. Many other people have given of their time and acts of service. However, at this time, our ministry is in need of financial help from God’s people. We have prayed and made our requests known to God for help. We have done all that we can do humanly possible for this to succeed. We believe that God has called us to the ministry, and more specifically to this ministry to children. The tuition we receive from these five children covers only the mortgage and utilities to keep the business open, but we cannot continue like this much longer. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6. We have made our requests (needs) known to God and are waiting for our help, “…whence cometh from the LORD.”
Last Friday night we visited with our daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren. As Donna was talking to our daughter she was holding our six year old granddaughter, Macy, in her lap. As Donna was telling our daughter about our financial needs and the situation, Macy quietly climbed down from Donna’s lap, went into her bedroom, and brought back a plastic bag of coins (see picture). She gave it to Donna and said she had been saving this for our daycare. The bag had $5.03 in it. This precious little child heard our pleas, listened to God speak to her tender little heart, and she responded in faith to give us all her money so that little boys and girls will hear the message of the God who loves them, the Savior who died for them, and how much God cares about them. “And (Jesus) said, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3. We are making our need known. Who among God’s people will come as this six year old child in faith and respond to God’s call upon your heart?
Dear brother and sisters in Christ, I'm writing this to ask you to please pray and consider helping this ministry. There is no greater need than for families and children to hear the Gospel. Ask the Lord to help you make a difference and invest your life for Him. Life is "but a vapor" and only what is done for Christ will last. If you would like to learn more about The Potter’s Hand Learning Center, you can read more from an article recently published by the Albany Herald, or you can visit the Potter's Hand Ministries. Thanks in advance for your prayers!
Images from the center....