Tribute to our friend!

Last night, upon returning from our trip to Africa, I was informed that our friend from under the bridge, Raymond, had gone home to be with the Lord. He passed away last Monday fro complications from pneumonia.
I will never forget Raymond. A slight man, he was always among the first to be there to help us unload our tables and goods for a feeding program. He would always carry his share and more.
The last time I saw him, he shared with me something that his father had always told him. “it is never too late to be what you are capable of being.” That had an impact on me and it is a truth that many of us can learn from.
Though homeless, Raymond recognized how much better off he was than those we were going to visit in Rwanda. He expressed a concern for our well-being. I was concerned for his. He had recently been accepted into a housing program that he did not feel worthy to accept.
When we first met, he was living up on the Sandy River. He would take a bus to Gresham and then take Max downtown. One of the things I’ll always remember about Raymond was his response to my question as to “why do you come all this way just to get a meal?” He responded, “Because I know you guys are going to be here.” It was not the meal, but people who showed their sincere concern for him.
Raymond, it was an honor and a privilege to know you.
Mike

Next Time Under the Bridge – Sunday, November 29th!!

Hey Everyone! Just wanted to give a shout out that we are planning for our next gathering under the Steele Bridge on Sunday, November 29th! We are planning a BBQ again as hot burgers fresh off the grill are always a hit!

We received word from Peter earlier this week that our friend, Raymond Routta, died. We rejoice for Raymond as he was a follower of Jesus and he is with his Lord in Heaven. However, we mourn the loss of our friend. Please pray for all who are grieving, that they will receive comfort.

Below are our needs for the meal:

Hamburger patties – 200
Hamburger Buns – 200
Hotdogs and Hotdog buns – 50
Baked goodies (no nuts)
Fresh fruit
Bottled Water
Apple Cider
Variety Lays Chips (50 ct) – 5 Boxes

*IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR WISH TO MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBRUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY at shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI at cindi@gerkman.com

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO JOIN US DOWNTOWN, PLEASE BRING ONE NEW BLANKET OR TARP (5X7 GREEN OR BROWN) OR ONE CLEAN USED BLANKET THAT IS IN GOOD CONDITION TO HAND OUT. ALSO … WE ARE MEETING WITH INCREASING NUMBERS WHEN WE GO DOWNTOWN AND WE NEED MORE CHAIRS TO VISIT IN. IF YOU ARE GOING DOWNTOWN, BRING ALONG TWO LAWN CHAIRS … ONE FOR YOU AND ONE FOR A FRIEND. THANK YOU.

General Needs
Please click on the “General Needs” link for a list of our ongoing needs. that to our list. We can always use men and women’s warm clothing that is in good condition. We are also running low on socks and shoes.

Date: Sunday, November 29, 2009
Time: 1:00 pm Canby, OR – New Life Foursquare Church Parking Lot to carpool to Grace; 1:30 pm Wilsonville, OR – Grace Church Office Parking Lot, Boberg Road to pray and caravan downtown

“Let us place ourselves completely under the influence of Jesus, so that He may think through our spirit and work through our hands. We can do everything if His strength is in us.” – Mother Teresa

Report on our time downtown, 10/25/09

Our time downtown under the Steele Bridge on 10/25 was pure joy! We witnessed and heard of one miracle after another. When we pulled under the bridge, I was taken aback by the number of people who greeted us and quickly helped to unload our vehicles. By the time we had unloaded, I think it is safe to say there were already 75 to 100 people in line waiting to share the meal we had brought with us!

The weather has been turning quickly from the warm days of fall to the cold nights of winter and my prayers before we went down repeatedly centered around my asking the Lord to miraculously provide for our friends in the way of tarps, blankets, and warm clothing. As I went through things in the storage unit during the week prior to our time under the bridge, I could see how low we were running on such items and my prayers quickly ramped up from “Please Lord provide” to “Lord we need you to provide!” The gift of being able to see right in front of our eyes the faithfulness of God’s provision when we simply ask was made known to all as things began to be unloaded and set out. Through the gifts of many, God provided 60+ tarps for our friends, numerous blankets and sleeping bags, and an ABUNDANCE of clothing so much so that we couldn’t see any of the tables they were so FULL!! We put out the word asking those who went downtown with us to bring just one blanket and we were given the miracle of seeing the Lord’s promise to multiply the seed we sow when we give!

It was so awesome to reconnect with many who we have come to know and love. We were given the opportunity to hear two of our friends report on how they had found housing!! As Raymond spoke to me about his new home, I could see a mixture of emotions coming up and out of his heart. He was thankful, so thankful, yet his prayer request was that he would be able to receive the gift of having a place to call home. I asked Raymond if I could pray with him right where we were standing and he allowed me to do so. As we prayed, I asked God to give Raymond the ability to see that none of us deserve the goodness of God, but in His mercy and grace, he bestows on us His love and certainly that is what He had done for him in providing his new home. As we finished praying, both Raymond and I had tears running down our cheeks and he simply said, “Thank you for taking the time to pray the words that I have wanted to pray but didn’t feel like I could.” We pray that God would continue to reveal to Raymond how much He loves Him and that Raymond would increasingly feel worthy to receive the truth of how much he is loved by his Heavenly Father.

Princess and Pancho have found a home as well!! What a blessing to hear them talk of their apartment and how they are getting ready for their baby’s arrival in late December/early January. We sat and heard of their acknowledgement that God had provided this home for them and they were trusting for His provision for what lies ahead of them and their new son. We are in the beginning stages of planning a baby shower for Princess!! We will post updates concerning our plans for her as they unfold.

Another miracle … My brother Stan, joined us for the first time on the 25th. He is a recovered alcoholic and drug addict and loves Jesus. Jesus saved him from the pit and Stan is the first to acknowledge that, if it were not for Jesus’ saving grace, he would be lost and without a home. Following our time downtown, Stan spoke of how he was impacted by all that he witnessed and how thankful he was for what God is doing through CUB. Before Stan went back to his home in Washington the following day, he gave me a check for $500.00 to go toward purchasing sleeping bags. I thank God for saving my brother. I thank Him for Stan’s heart of humility and gratitude. I thank Jesus for pouring His love into Stan’s life and that Stan, in return, kindly considered those he met under the bridge and acted on their behalf.

Lastly, what a privilege it is to hear of what God is doing in the hearts of those who go downtown to serve. I received an email from Lori, a friend who regularly takes part in Church Under The Bridge, after our time on the 25th. I believe her words capture what God is doing in each one of us as we bring the light of His love to those we fellowship with under the Steele Bridge:

“There was a man named Kevin who was badly beat up. I served him the bowl of soup and when I looked up and saw his face I literally gasped. He looked awful…raw meat. I said “so how bad is the other guy?” and he said “well, he is in the hospital”. I told him that I was so sorry and asked what happened. He told me that he (Kevin) is a street musician and that this other guy came and stole the little money he had made so Kevin went after him and the fight was a bad one. It was kind of an out of body experience for me as I looked into his eyes and touched his arm and said “what is your name?” and he said “Kevin” and I said “Kevin, I will pray for you”. Do you remember the movie Ghost? Whoopie Goldberg entered Demi Moore’s body and lived through it. That is what I felt happened when I looked at and touched Kevin. I literally felt the Holy Spirit fill me. He is the one who touched Kevin, He is the one who looked into his eyes and He is the one who said “I will pray for you”. It was something that I will never forget happening Shelly. Once again, I was blessed. It was ME that got blessed right along with Kevin. Will you remember to pray for him?”

Please join us as we lift Kevin and all of our friends downtown to the throne of God and pray about gathering with us in November. We know you will experience the touch of the Holy Spirit as you consider those who have less during this holiday season.

We will soon be posting another message to the blog concerning our next time downtown, Sunday, November 29th. We will also include info on some exciting things we are planning for December!

To God Be The Glory – Shelly
For Church Under The Bridge
Matthew 25:34-40
‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Next Gathering Under the Bridge – October 25th!

Charity is practical. Sometimes it is easy, more often inconvenient, but always necessary. It is the ability to use one’s position of influence, wealth relative to the rest of the world, and the power of Christ’s love to affect lives for the better. Charity is singular and IT IS achievable. Will we be known as one who wears charity?”
Calvary Connection International

First, I would like to extend heart-felt thanks to all who have been praying for Dean, Michael, Bailee and I after my mom’s sudden passing into Glory. It has been the prayers of many that have kept us during this great loss. Waves of grief continue to come over us, but with each wave we are saved by God’s grace, comfort, and love and we are reminded it is that same love that will always bind us together in spirit with mom.

We are sooo looking forward to being back downtown with everyone on the 25th. We are going to be serving Karen Fort’s AWESOME homemade chicken noodle soup!!!

The Meal

Chicken Noodle Soup
Soft Butterflake Rolls and Butter
Soft Baked Goodies
Fresh Fruit
Deli Sandwiches
Chips
Bottled Water
Coffee

Meal Needs

Soft Baked Goodies
Fresh Fruit
Deli Sandwiches
Variety Lays 50 CT Boxed Chips (Four Boxes)
Bottled Water

**IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR WISH TO MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBRUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY at shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI at cindi@gerkman.com**

General Needs

PLEASE … If you plan to join us downtown, bring along either a clean, used blanket, a new blanket, or a brown or green 5′ x 7′ tarp. The cold and rain are beginning and we want to share warm blankets and dry tarps in abundance to all who are in need. It is our prayer that, as we offer protection from the elements to our friends, Christ’s love and protection will also cover each one of them.

Please click on the General Needs link for a list of our ongoing needs. We are in need of clean men’s and women’s winter clothing that is in good condition. Coats, hats, and gloves are in great demand this time of year

Date: Sunday, October 25, 2009
Time: 1:00 pm Canby, OR – New Life Foursquare Church Parking Lot to carpool to Grace.
1:30 pm Wilsonville, OR – Grace Office Parking Lot, Boberg Rd to pray and caravan downtown

Sunday, September 27th – Church Under the Bridge

We will be gathering under the Steele Bridge to share a final Summer BBQ with our friends downtown. God is doing some amazing work and he has given us the privilege to be a part of it. Won’t you join us?

The Meal

BBQ Hamburgers & Hotdogs
Karen’s Famous Potato Salad
Chips
Soft Baked Goodies (no nuts)
Fresh Fruit
Lemonade

**Meal Needs**

150 Burgers & Buns
Cheddar Cheese slices
50 Hotdogs & Buns
Individual packages of Chips (Costco)
Soft Baked Goodies (no nuts)
Fresh Fruit

**IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR WISH TO MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBRUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY at shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI at cindi@gerkman.com**

General Needs

Please click on the “General Needs” link for a list of our ongoing needs. We can always use men & women’s seasonal clothing in good condition. And with the weather getting cooler, warm clothes, blankets, sleeping bags, and tarps are needed.

Date: Sunday, September 27, 2009
Time:: 1:00 pm Canby, OR – New Life Foursquare Church Parking Lot to carpool to Grace.
1:30 pm Wilsonville, OR – Grace Office Parking Lot, Boberg Rd to pray and caravan downtown

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18

Our most recent visit

To give an account of our last time downtown can only be an expression of thankfulness and awe.
It began as we pulled up under the Steele Bridge. Never had we seen such a gathering to help unload and set up. Immediately, as the tables were in place, everyone that wanted clothes (just as if we were giving directions) swarmed around the clothes tables and, those that were hungry, got in the food line. Now realize, we were having a BBQ and it takes time to get the BBQ set up and the burgers done cooking – that did not matter and, in no time, we had close to 90 in line all the way to the waterfront. We cooked and cooked until we had no more- over 2 hours of turning burgers , (with even an additional run or two to the grocery store to pick up more.) All in all, we probably cooked up hamburgers, hotdogs and chicken for around 250! Call it a God thing, because we have never seen such an outpouring of the Spirit…helping hands, grateful hearts, expressions of friendship – just like a family reunion. I stood back and watched as those that volunteer mingled, prayed, lent a caring ear and a hug – all doing the most simple of things…spending an afternoon showing the many who gathered with us that they are cared for. I could not help but think, maybe just maybe, we were simply there for one couple – Chase and Monica , who had just got into town the day before. They both were slightly overwhelmed and Monica was feeling sick from an apparent urinary infection, not knowing where to go for medical care or how to get there. Two of the group volunteered to take them up to OHSU and check Monica in for care. Chase cried as he showed his gratitude for both the food and aid to Monica from strangers in a new town. Will we see them again? That is unknown…but we do know that, just as Pastor Al shared that morning, Jesus cares for their souls, so much so, that he died for them.
We are, as always, blessed to be used, blessed to spend time with our friends downtown, and energized and encouraged to see and experience a purposeful God use ordinary men and women to show His love and grace for one another. A God who purposes to spend eternity in heaven with each of His children. How much is a soul worth? It is priceless!
Our thanks go out to all that were able to make it, those that pray, those that contribute both dollars for food, food to serve, and various other needed items. We thank New Life for use of the wonderful BBQ. Without all of you, all that takes place under the Steele Bridge would be impossible. We hope that as you read this and if our Lord prompts you to join us, you hear Him and obey. How does He want to use you? How is He trying to gain more of you? How is He desiring to use you to gain another soul for heaven? It will be priceless!!
Our next time to gather will be September 27th – See you then.
Click on our needs category as we have some specific requests from some specific friends.
Many blessings from all of us with Church under the Bridge.

Church Under the Bridge –Sunday August 30th!

Join us downtown under the Steele Bridge as we gather for another summer BBQ.

We will be serving the following Meal:

Hamburgers & Chicken Burgers
Hotdogs
Potato Salad
Baked Beans
Chips
Baked goodies
Fresh fruit
Lemonade
Bottled water

*Meal needs*

Hamburgers – 100
Hamburger Buns – 150
Hotdogs & Hotdog buns – 50
Baked goodies (no nuts)
Fresh fruit

*IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ABOVE FOOD ITEMS OR WISH TO MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBRUTION TO PURCHASE ITEMS, PLEASE EMAIL SHELLY at shellymedtrans@msn.com OR CINDI at cindi@gerkman.com

General Needs
Please click on the “General Needs” link for a list of our ongoing needs. Foot powder has been requested and we have added that to our list. We can always use men & women’s seasonal clothing that is in good condition.

Date: Sunday, August 30th, 2009
Time: 1:00 pm Canby, OR – New Life Foursquare Church Parking Lot to carpool to Grace; 1:30 pm Wilsonville, OR – Grace Church Office Parking Lot, Boberg Road to pray and caravan downtown

Report on our Taco Feed!

What an awesome time in the Lord we all shared during our Taco Feed downtown last Sunday! Warm sunshine fell on us all as we gathered under the Steele Bridge. We were able to serve an abundance of food and we were all surrounded by an abundance of God’s love. We are continuing to build lasting relationships with many who we see each time we go downtown. What a joy it was to have Andy, Serenity, Avery, Ally, and Eva with us again

My heart continues to be stretched in ways that often hurts yet feels so good as I know it is the Lord’s Spirit that is stretching me. Increasingly, we are becoming aware that as we go downtown we carry with us a fresh wave of God’s Holy Spirit. His Spirit occupies the space under the bridge we have been given to gather in and both those who go to serve as well as those who always serve us in return are being unified by the Spirit of God in a way that breaks down walls that define “us” and “them.” God is binding us together as One in His spirit as evidenced by the love that is so freely shared back and forth between all of us.

Praise to God for the prayer time that we all shared hand-in-hand after we had eaten, fellowshipped, and cleaned up. For all who go with us, please, if you are able, remain with us to pray after we have cleaned up. We have been speaking for some time about organizing a “time and place” for all who have participated in Church Under the Bridge to gather and share testimonies of what we have all witnessed of Jesus during our times under the bridge. During a time of prayer earlier in the week, God revealed to us that the “time” would be immediately following our time with our friends and the “place” would be right there with them, further cementing in our hearts that they are a part of us and we are a part of them. Peter joined us and expressed his gratitude to God for our time together. He is coming closer and closer to accepting Jesus as his Savior!!! We are seeing a softening of his heart toward the things of God and we know that Christ’s Spirit is drawing him.

The following Thursday (7/30/09) a group of us loaded our cars with coolers full of ice and water and brought cold “living water” to share with anyone we would find in need during the extremely hot weather we had this past week. We saw and shared cold water with many who we know and many others who we met for the first time. Thank God that we were able to find Princess and that she was doing okay. Thankfully, Lori was able to take her to Pioneer Square for a bite to eat and to get in out of the heat.

God also ordained a meeting with a man by the name of Vance. Vance shared with us his 30 year struggle with alcohol and how he desired to be set free from the chains that bound him. We prayed with Vance on the street and challenged him that his making the decision to get free was the first step toward freedom. Please pray that he surrenders to the recovery program at Portland Rescue Mission as he has made an attempt to get clean and sober there.

We had another ordained meeting with Felicity, the young woman who Serenity spoke of meeting a couple of years ago outside the post office on Mustard Seed Ministry’s video. We walked by a group of people sitting on the sidewalk near the train station and Serenity immediately recognized Felicity and she recognized Serenity. Tears flowed from Felicity’s eyes as Serenity shared with her how much she continued to pray for her. Serenity prayed for Felicity right there on the sidewalk, praying that she would find herself worthy to sit at the feet of Jesus and allow Him to pour His love over her, heal her, and set her free from the enemy’s clutches. We told both Felicity and Vance that we would be back downtown at the end of August under the Steele Bridge. It is our prayer that we see them then.

Our gratitude for what God is doing in us and through Church Under the Bridge only grows. We are thankful for the countless miracles of the heart, including our own, that we are given the privilege of witnessing when we are downtown. We are thankful for the outpouring of gratitude and support we receive from many we meet and from all whom we have come to know and love. We are thankful that Jesus has chosen us to be representatives of His love and grace before men. We are thankful for every prayer that is lifted up for Church Under the Bridge and its members. We are thankful to the many who give of their time and resources to bless those who meet us under the bridge. We are thankful for the children who join us each month with their families “for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” We are thankful to witness the power of the Body of Christ working together, each member effortlessly sharing the gifts they have been given, so that we all may contribute in bringing Glory to God. We are thankful that Jesus is doing a mighty work in us all!

We will be posting another message concerning our next time downtown in August soon. Until that time, may the sufficiency of God’s grace, peace, and love keep you – Shelly
For Church Under the Bridge

“Joy is the proof of the rightness of any endeavor. Joy is the compass which points to God’s direction in life.”
From the book, Mother Teresa

.

Sunday, July 26, 2009 – Next Gathering Under the Bridge!!

Hey Everyone. Just a head’s up that we will be gathering under the Steele Bridge next Sunday, July 26th. We are excited for what God purposes to do through us as we serve one another for His glory!!

We are planning a Taco Feed! We actually had someone request tacos the last time we were downtown so we are going to take that request to heart and carry it out

We welcome ALL who have joined us before and we invite ALL who have yet to be a part of God’s kingdom downtown. What He calls us to is simple … Lift up Jesus and pour out His Love. We, His people, are the vessels He has chosen in order for this to be accomplished. As we cooperate with Jesus in bringing hope to those who have no hope, love to those who feel unloved, focus our attention to those who so often are overlooked, and share a warm meal and some of life’s basic necessities to those who often wake up and go to bed hungry, wearing possibly the same clothing they have for untold days, we are sharing in the suffering of Christ and, in doing so, He guarantees that we will share in His resurrection glory. We have seen and tasted His faithfulness. Each time we have gone, He has poured into our hearts the glory of His resurrection power and He has filled us exactly where we need to be filled. Praise His Holy Name!!

Our current needs are outlined below

The Meal
Seasoned Ground Beef
Shredded Cheese
Shredded Lettuce
Salsa
Sour Cream
Beans (Refried)
Bottled Water
Canned Whipcream
Squeeze Bottle Strawberry Jam
Soft baked Goodies (without nuts)
Fresh Fruit

Our hope is to be able to serve 300 tacos!! If anyone is able to contribute any of the above-mentioned items, please email Shelly @ shellymedtrans.com or Cindi @ cindi@gerkman.com.

General Needs

Please click on the “General Needs” link for a list of our ongoing needs. Foot powder has been requested and we have added that to our list. We can always use men & women’s seasonal clothing that is in good condition.

Prayer Requests

Please pray for Ray and his continuing struggle with alcohol. Pray that the “little voice” that Ray mentioned hearing, reasoning with him not to drink, becomes bigger than the enemy’s voice convincing him that alcohol will lessen his struggle. We know that “little voice” is God’s Holy Spirit and we pray that the power of God is released into Ray’s life. He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world!

Please pray for God’s protection over Allen’s heart and mind. He has shared his struggle with schizophrenia and we are burdened by the daily fight Allen faces. Please pray that God would continue to send ministering angels to Allen. Allen’s soft and gentle spirit has certainly ministered to us. Please pray that our time with Allen is time in which he feels the safe love of Jesus.

Please pray for Ben who is serving time in prison in Nevada. If it be God’s will, we pray that Ben would find his way back to Portland. Peter and Ray miss him and it would be a celebration to have their friend back.

Please pray for Darcy and her struggle with addiction to alcohol and depression. Pray that she will find the strength to commit to treatment. Pray for God’s protection over her heart and mind as she battles feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness. Pray that God’s light would penetrate the darkness she professes to be surrounded by and that she will follow His light straight to Jesus for healing and restoration.

Please pray for God’s blessing over Joey and Stephanie of Ncompass who recently married. We pray that they are empowered by Jesus to serve Him in unity!

Please continue to pray for Princess’ safety and health during her pregnancy. Please pray that she has been able to successfully re-establish her coverage under Oregon Health Plan as her backpack with all her identification and medical cards was stolen.

Please continue to pray for Peter’s back. On the 2nd of July, he began cortisone injections. We pray that they have provided him with much relief.

We are excited that Andy and Serenity are back and will be joining us on Sunday!! Please pray for their continued transition back home. Pray that the Peace of Christ would continue to surround them as they seek Him concerning the work He continues to call them to. Praise God for their willingness to follow Jesus for His name’s sake!!

We welcome all who have gathered with us before and all who have yet to join us as we purpose to lift Jesus up and draw men unto Him under the Steele Bridge. If you hear Jesus calling, come join us and be filled.

Date: Sunday, July 26, 2009
Time:: 1:00 pm Canby, OR – New Life Foursquare Church Parking Lot to carpool to Grace.
1:30 pm Wilsonville, OR – Grace Office Parking Lot, Boberg Rd to pray and caravan downtown

The success of love is in the loving – it is not in the result of loving. Of course it is natural in love to want the best for the other person, but whether it turns out that way or not does not determine the value of what we have done.
Mother Teresa

Church Under The Bridge – This Sunday, June 28, 2009!!!

Our hearts are filled with joy to know we will be meeting to gather again in Jesus’ name under the Steele Bridge this Sunday!

We will be serving our first BBQ of the summer! Outlined below is a list of the things we will be serving/needing:

The Meal
Hamburger patties and buns – enough to serve 150
Hotdogs and hotdog buns
Potato Salad
Baked Beans
Chips
Baked goodies
Fresh fruit
Lemonade
Bottled water

Personal Items
Tarps
Blankets
Hats
T-shirts
Shorts (men & women)
Underwear (men & women)
Socks (men & women)
Lip Balm
Sunscreen
Deoderant
Travel-size hand sanitizer
Individual packets of Kleenex
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Dry dog food
Fruit snacks
Protein bars

Prayer Requests
Please pray for Princess’ safety and health during her pregnancy. Praise God that she has found medical care and someone to follow her during her pregnancy. Pray that Princess’ every need will be met through her Father in Heaven.

Please pray for Peter’s back. Praise God that he has found medical care through NORA in downtown Portland and that he has not had to leave the area in search of medical care. Please join us in praying that God would make Himself known in a real way to Peter.

If anyone is able to contribute any of the above-mentioned items, please email Shelly @ shellymedtrans.com or Cindi @ cindi@gerkman.com. We want to make this, our first BBQ of the summer, a big feast served with the Love of Jesus to our brothers & sisters in Christ. We are excited that Joey, Ben and the rest of the Ncompass group will be joining us as we gather. They are lights for Jesus that shine brightly for His glory and we are sooo thankful to count them as co-laborers in the field Jesus has given us to care for in downtown Portland. May He find us faithful.

We welcome all who have gathered with us before and all who have yet to join us as we purpose to lift Jesus up and draw men unto Him under the Steele Bridge.

Date: Sunday, June 28, 2009
Time: 1:00 pm Canby, OR – New Life Foursquare Church Parking Lot to carpool to Grace; 1:30 pm Wilsonville, OR – Grace Church Office Parking Lot, Boberg Road to pray and caravan downtown

Galatians 6:9-10
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Thankful

What a wonderful blessing it is to see this opportunity we have in print.  Broadcasted out to all those God brings into the fold, to learn and see what He is doing with those in need in downtown Portland.  Thank you for your interest.  May you be blessed and encouraged by what God is doing. No matter what is going on in your life…maybe reaching out to our poor, reaching out to those in need beyond what ever, you have experienced, will set you free.  Free from what keeps you from living a life on fire for Christ or free to just live more “simply”.  He is good and life is more simple than we make it.  We love you and hope you can come with us…anytime God calls you, we know you will be blessed and those you see, will be blessed by you!

Love Dino

Our last visit

Our time under the bridge on 11/16.  The account of the events this day are nothing short of amazing.  As the carpool of 5 cars, pulls into Grace from New Life and we start to gather, it wasn’t long before the parking lot was full of cars and over 45 people were holding hands in a circle praying for Jesus to reveal himself every step of the way.  As we arrived at Burnside Bridge and started setting up on the grass our friends-both new and old, started showing up to share our BBQ, beans, chips, sweets, cider, water, clothes and personal items.  I met one new attendee, Bill.  He epitomizes who we have seen before and who we will see time and time again.  Bill was in a tragic accident a few years ago that left him almost dead and in the hospital for over 5 weeks.  Never did I hear any self-pity, but instead he gave thanks to God for sparing his life .  He shares his faith and testimony daily as he has travled across the country.  He feels his purpose is to share hope with those he meets on the streets.  Bill mentioned that he continues to look for a way to get off the street but due to a reduction in his disability check and the increase in the cost of living he has been forced to make due without a roof over his head.  Bill, as with many of those we meet, don’t come just to receive, but to also give.  He was thankful that Jesus had set him free.  He felt that as he shares about Jesus, if even one receives hope or salvation, then his injuries have all been for a reason. 

As I write this and think about Bill and our friends downtown, I feel as though I need to ask God for forgiveness and the homeless community for forgiveness.  I have judged and thought that I had all the answers as to why they are there.  Nothing could be more from the truth.  It could be our next door neighbor next week or even myself.  It is by God’s grace that I stay healthy and gainfully employed.  Join us in praying for our economy, our health system, our homeless here in Portland and all across the county.

Staytuned for more info on our next time to gather is Sunday, December 21st.

posted by Dino for Church under the bridge

Update On Sunday, 12/21/08 outreach

After much prayer and consideration, due to the crazy weather we have had this week as well as the forecast for Sunday, we are going to be rescheduling the organized outreach downtown this Sunday. 

Dean had a chance to go downtown yesterday and check to see if anyone was down by the bridge.  He found two men, both in sleeping bags.  One man said that he had been getting into The Salvation Army every night and that he had plans to go back there at 6:00 for dinner and stay in for the night.  There was no sign of Peter or anyone else we know.  We are thankful that the shelters, churches and warming centers  have ramped up to accomodate everyone who needs to get in out of this cold.  Our prayers continue for all of our friends and for those who are serving them. 

We also extend a heartfelt thank you for everyone that has made holiday cookies, donated clothing, made scarves, and helped in preparation for the meal we were going to be serving.  If you are able to freeze and store the cookies for our next time down that would be great.  If that is not possible, we understand.   We are thankful that we will have an abundance of warm clothing to share with our friends the next time we are with them!

It continues to be our desire to have a banquet at a host home for our friends in January.  Will you join us in praying that a home for such a gathering becomes available?  We pray God’s covering and protection over all.    Merry Christmas! 

Dean & Shelly Mallon for Church Under the Bridge

Galatians 5:6 “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love”

“New Year Jubilee”

In the spirit of Jubilee that Andy and Serenity went forth in their very first Jubilee Diner celebration, we will be going downtown to serve God’s people.  It is our hope and prayer that in freely providing a meal, clothing, and personal items that God’s love and mercy will be freely received by all we meet.

We will be heading back downtown on Sunday, January 25th!   We are sooo excited to share time and a meal with our friends downtown after missing a whole month due to the snow.  We are planning to serve Swedish meatballs with mashed potatoes & gravy, warm rolls & jam, and plenty of hot chocolate and coffee, the meal we were planning for in December.  We will be taking down an abundance of clothing, hats, gloves, scarves, socks, underwear and tarps.  (Thank you to Kelly for all the handmade scarves!).  Donations from our H.U.G.S. project have continued to show the love and support from our youth at New Life.  Praise God for His faithfulness through His people!!! 

Thank you to everyone who helps make Church Under the Bridge the blessing that it is.  Your continued prayers fuel all that is done for the Lord’s glory.

Again, we openly extend an invitation to any and all who would like to serve our Lord by blessing some of  God’s children who may feel overlooked, but who are definitely not overlooked by God.   We count it an honor to be an extension of Christ’s love to those we fellowship with.  May God’s love shine upon each one of you!   

Date:  Sunday, January 25th, 2009 ( We will try to stay on the schedule of going down the 4th Sunday of every month).

Time:  1:00 pm Canby, OR – New Life Foursquare Church Parking Lot to carpool to Grace; 1:30 pm  Wilsonville, OR –  Grace Church Office Parking Lot,  Boberg Road to pray and caravan downtown

“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love”

Galatians 5:6

Happy Birthday Peter!

January 18, 2009
 
Some time ago, while meeting under the bridge with our friends, it hit me, “All of these people have birthdays and I wonder how many times their birthdays go by unnoticed and uncelebrated.”  I was saddened by this realization and I felt the prompting of the Lord to seek out a birthday, even if it is just one person’s birthday, and purpose to recognize and celebrate that day in some special way.  Many of you who have been a part of Church Under The Bridge know Peter.  He has been present at pretty much every Church Under the Bridge gathering since Andy & Serenity and Tim & Jenn started going downtown.  We have grown to love Peter and it was a no-brainer as to who I would ask first concerning their birthday.  We discovered that he and Cindi share the same birthday .. January 20th.  We had planned on all celebrating together … our family, the Gerkman’s and Peter, but due to some scheduling conflicts for the 20th with Dean’s travel, we elected that we would go down on Sunday, January 18th, and pick Peter up to take him out to dinner.  Unfortunately, Mike & Cindi were not able to join us but we know they were with us in spirit.  Happy Birthday Cindi!
 
It took a little looking for and lots of asking questions, but we finally found Peter at the Portland Rescue Mission.  He was sitting inside watching football waiting for dinner.  By the time we found him, it was a little after 5:00.  Michael saw him sitting in the full-to-capacity chapel from across the room.  When he pointed him out to me and I saw him, he saw Michael & I and his face lit up.  We made our way to him and he got up and gave us all a big hug.  Dean told him that we wanted to take him out for a birthday dinner if he would like to come with us and he said that he would like to go.  We took him to the Macadam Pub & Grill.  It was awesome as, when we got to the restaurant, it was completely full because of the Superbowl playoff game and the gal asked if we would like to sit in their banquet room.  The room had a big-screen TV with the football game playing and there were only about ten people in their with us so it was much quieter and we could talk.  Peter loved watching the game and he had a big cheeseburger, fries and a Sprite.  He loved the coat and gloves Mike got for him at Columbia and what a joy to watch him put them on   
 
We spent about 3-1/2 hours with Peter, watching football, talking, and eating.  I know, like always, we were the more blessed to have had this time with him.  As I type this, my heart is still impacted by the time we spent with Peter.  He said everyone was asking about us last month, wondering where we were.  I can’t help but think that some of the sadness we saw on Peter’s face tonight was, certainly not in total, but possibly partially because we had missed going down last month because of the ice & snow.  I am sooo thankful that we were able to find him tonight to, if nothing else, remind him that he is not forgotten. 
 
When we took Peter back to the Mission and stood on the street with him, hugging him and telling him goodbye, I knew this was part of what the Lord had asked me when we first started going down on a regular basis, “Do you trust me with your heart enough that you are willing to have it broken?”  It is one thing to leave an entire group while it is still light outside after we have been downtown for Church Under The Bridge; it is an entirely different thing to leave one man who you care so deeply about on a street corner at night.   It was soo hard to leave Peter and drive off.  I trust that the Lord is with Him even now, just has He is so faithfully with all of us.  While we were looking for Peter earlier, we saw where he was staying … an area just underneath the Steele Bridge where all his belongings and bed were neatly placed.  He is outside sleeping tonight and I pray that his new coat and new gloves help to keep him physically warm.  It is our prayer that Peter’s heart is warmed as he goes to sleep tonight knowing that he is loved, not just by us but, more importantly, by His Father in Heaven. 
 
Colossians 3:17
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
 
Posted by Shelly
For Church Under the Bridge

Superbowl Sunday

February 1, 2009

 

During our visit downtown last weekend, we agreed as a family that we would invite Peter to our home to watch the Superbowl game.  To our joy, he accepted our invite!  We picked Peter up at the Portland Rescue Mission downtown and brought him back to our home in Woodburn.  We had a great evening with him.  We watched the game together, complete with 3-D glasses for the 3-D commercials, and even though our team, the Arizona Cardinals, didn’t come up with the win, we were able to end our evening with Peter with a sense of celebration in our hearts.  Celebration, that he trusts us enough to have us pick him up and take him far from what he knows as his home to spend time with us in our home.  We shared BBQ cheeseburgers (always on the menu with Peter ) 

 

I am continually challenged after our time with Peter in feeling that somehow we are not doing enough for him and, yet, I know as well that this is a pull from my flesh that is really grounded in pride so I choose to lay such thoughts down.  We are thankful to be able to call Peter a friend and that is what the Lord is continually challenging me to use as my gauge for our involvement with Peter.  He is our friend …. treat him as such.  That whole, “I should have done more” thing can be a real hamster’s wheel and I choose to be thankful for the opportunity the Lord gave us for spending a fun evening watching football with a friend. 

 

Posted by Shelly

For Church Under The Bridge

 

Update

January 25, 2009

 

After missing our time downtown in December because of the snow & ice, we joined at Grace Chapel’s office with grateful hearts for the sunshine and all who gathered with us to take the love of God under the Burnside Bridge.  We took advantage of the open covered space where Saturday Market sets up during the spring & summer.  We had an abundance of warm clothes, scarves. H.U.G.S. donations, and food to share with all we would meet. 

 

I have had a hard time writing about our experience this past weekend as so much took place.  I have sought Lord on what He would want said about our gathering and “simple truth” is what I have heard Him say.  I believe much of what took place under the bridge was a reminder that we are carrying the light of Jesus into the darkness that surrounds our friends downtown on a daily basis.  We are reminded that we are ambassadors of Jesus Christ and we are being made ready as part of the Lord’s Army.  From setting up, laying out clothing and blankets, serving food and visiting with our friends, the Lord’s peace and unity was tangibly felt.   After much of the food had been served, Mallory Gwynn, along with his wife, Sheri, and their girls, began to sing praise songs and Mallory played the guitar while many were eating; it was like a sweet aroma rising to the Lord.  We had the pure joy of meeting Clarence, a zealous follower of Jesus who KNEW his Bible and was not afraid to stand for the truth of God’s word.  Equally, we were blessed by meeting a precious woman by the name of Vicki whose joy in the Lord was so contagious.  Just being around her, caused joy to swell up in our hearts as she spoke of her gratitude to God and her love of His people.  Whenever I was around her, I thought what a testimony this woman’s life is to Jesus …. in the natural having so little but in the Spirit having more wealth than imaginable.  As both she and Clarence spoke, that same sweet aroma was filling the air where we gathered.  After we had cleaned up and loaded up most of our things into our cars, we gathered as a group and asked anyone who wanted to to join us hand-in-hand in a circle as Clarence closed our time together in prayer.  What a victory in the Spirit as we held hands and in unity spoke the Lord’s prayer out loud!  I feel I can speak for our entire group in saying that, as we cleaned up and loaded our cars to get ready to leave, we had the fullness of Christ’s peace and much had been accomplished in the Spirit during the time we were under the bridge with our sisters & brothers in Christ.  Then, without notice, a verbal and physical fight broke out between a man and a woman.  The man had not been present while we were serving.  It was as if, in a moment’s notice, the joy & peace of God’s Spirit was being met head-on by Satan.  This was very difficult for especially the children who were with us to witness and we quickly had to get in our cars and leave.  Before we left, we had a moment to all gather around our cars and share the truth of what was happening with the kids … that Satan does not give up ground that he feels he has gained without a fight and that many of the people who we encounter when we go downtown, unlike Clarence & Vicki, don’t know the Lord.  We further shared with the kids that Jesus does live in each of their hearts and that He was with each of them, protecting them & keeping them from harm, and that we could pray with confidence that the woman and man who were fighting would come to the saving knowledge of their Savior as well. 

 

As I reflect back on all that took place, I am convinced that more than ever we should continue to take the love of Jesus to those who some would consider loveless and gird ourselves with the truth that our God is bigger than anything the enemy would ever hope to accomplish.  What happened as we were getting ready to leave is evidence that much in the Spirit was accomplished for our Lord and the enemy was mad.  As I write this, I think of Clarence who recited Scripture after Scripture, using God’s word as his authority and standing on the truth that each Scripture held.  In the same way, I encourage all who were with us and all who pray for us to yield the Sword of the Spirit on behalf of our brothers & sisters downtown and on behalf of all of God’s people who desire to cooperate with the Lord in all He desires to accomplish through Church Under the Bridge.  As we do, I know that, once again, a sweet aroma will rise to the Lord and that we will sense his assurance to not grow weary in doing good. 

 

Romans 8:35 -39

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 

Posted by Shelly for Mike & Cindi Gerkman & Dean, Michael & Bailee Mallon

For Church Under The Bridge

 

Our next visit 2/22

Hey Everyone!  We are excited to report that we will be heading back downtown this Sunday, February 22, 2009.  We are planning to serve lasagna, french bread, fresh fruit and lots of baked goodies.  If anyone is able to contribute to baking cupcakes or some other type of soft baked goody, please let us know by either emailing Shelly Mallon at shellymedtrans@msn.com or Cindi Gerkman at cindi@gerkman.com. 

 

As always during this time of year, we are in need of warm clothing, hats, gloves, scarves, lip balm, cough drops, tarps and blankets.   The H.U.G.S. program in The Edge class at New Life Foursquare Church is still gratefully accepting donations of such items.   What joy it was for us to see men walking down the streets of downtown Portland wearing the scarves that we handed out at our last gathering as we pulled over at a gas station to get gas before heading home

 

We encourage all who have come before and all who have considered coming to join us downtown this Sunday afternoon as we serve a warm meal, warm clothing and the love of Christ to our brothers and sisters who may feel forgotten and unloved. 

 

Date:                       Sunday, February 22, 2009

Location/Time: New Life Church Parking Lot @ 1:00 pm to caravan to Grace Chapel Office.         Grace Chapel office @ 1:30 pm to gather, pray and head downtown.

 

 

In this time of economic loss and uncertainty, the one thing we can be sure of is God’s economy.  The more we give His love to others, the more of His love we know for ourselves.  It is our heart’s cry that those we meet downtown come to know the riches of God’s love that is theirs in Christ Jesus.  It is in our willingness to be His hands, His feet and His voice that we are given the privilege of being vessels of His unending love.

 

“Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat”.   Mother Teresa.

Unity

Report On Our Time Under The Bridge on Sunday, February 22, 2009

Colossians 3:12-17  “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

In other posts, we have mainly felt led to share about what we discover when we go downtown in the people we meet, yet on this occasion my thoughts continue to center around those who gathered at Grace and and went downtown to pour out the love of Christ on those we would meet. When Bailee & I pulled into the Grace Church office parking lot, it was filled with cars and I said to Bailee, “Something must be going on at the office today.” As we pulled in the driveway it was clear that all the cars we saw from a distance belonged to the people who were fellowshipping in several groups in the parking lot and it quickly hit me  that it was “Church Under The Bridge” that was going on and joy rose up in my spirit!

God is doing a mighty work through His people and those who truly desire to hear from Him are doing just that. What is really exciting is they are not just hearing, they are also obeying. The unity that Christ calls us to in being His body is what we are seeing so clearly amongst those who go down. Each time we gather and go down that unity is strengthened. Somehow, even with those who come for the first time, there is an increasing and immediate bond that is building in the Spirit as we give of ourselves to be Jesus’ hands, feet and heart towards those who God loves yet may not know it. In the Spirit, it is immediately present and I see an effortlessness in how we are working together for the Glory of God under the Burnside Bridge. Something very powerful is happening for Jesus and we have the blessed gift of witnessing it with our spiritual eyes as we empty ourselves of us and ask that He fill us with Him. I am truly in awe of God who I see in the people who come and serve the homeless. It is a visual before men that says, “What God deems as important is more important than me … my time, my comfort level, my agenda.” Mathew 5:6 says,”Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” I praise God for the light of His love that is shining brightly amongst those He calls to be a part of Church Under the Bridge and I believe that light is definitely shining before we who go and those we meet downtown.

I was speaking with Lori, a friend of mine, about a comment that Peter had made to me as we were coming back from the Portland Rescue Mission. As we were walking down the stairs to go back to where we had set up to serve, a gentleman came almost frantically running up the stairs yelling at Peter to get down and get some food and clothing as things were running out. Peter was very calm and chuckled at him and told him he had all that he needed. It was then that Peter turned to me and said, “He doesn’t understand, I have you guys.” When Lori & were speaking of how much Peter’s comment meant to me in knowing that he was fully assured that if he were ever to need anything, he could call on us, Lori went further to say that his example of assurance is the same assurance we carry in our own hearts concerning the sufficiency of Christ to meet our needs. Isn’t it just like the enemy to frantically rise up and yell that we need to do all we can to get want we want before there is nothing left? Really, what Peter was saying without really knowing it is, “Christ has me covered.” Peter’s calm assurance is the same assurance that we carry in our hearts in knowing that no matter what we see with our physical eyes, our spirit agrees that every need we may have is met with sufficiency in Christ.

We welcome all who sense the call of Christ to join with us in serving the poor under the Burnside Bridge. Some powerful exchange is happening in people’s hearts as we corporately pray for Christ’s filling and then corporately pour out what He gives to us on those we meet downtown. This is an exchange that goes beyond the natural ability of our minds to comprehend because it is a filling that never ceases. We always walk away from our time downtown feeling that we were the recipients of God’s unending love & grace. More & more, like Peter, we are discovering that Christ truly has us covered. Not only are we being used as vessels for God’s love to flow to our brothers & sisters under the bridge, they are being used as vessels for His unending love to flow back to us. In this way, the unity we are experiencing is being made complete. It is God’s love that is drawing people to gather with us Under The Bridge and it is His love that is drawing so many of His people to go.

We give thanks & praise to God the Father through Christ Jesus our Lord. Thank you to ALL who helped organize and fund our time downtown in February. Thank you to all who helped to make lasagna & cupcakes as well as supply the remainder of the meal we served. Thank you for all the warm clothing & blankets!! Most of all, thank you for your continued support & prayers!

We will be going back downtown on Sunday, March 15, 2009 (we are going on the 3rd Sunday of March since the 4th Sunday will be during Spring Break) We are going to serve BBQ cheeseburgers!

Date: Sunday, March 15, 2009
Time/Place: 1:00 pm New Life Foursquare Church parking lot, Canby OR to carpool to Grace Chapel Church Office in Wilsonville. Meet at Grace Chapel Office on Boberg Road in Wilsonville at 1:30 pm to pray and head downtown.

With all the rain we have been having, tarps are something that is much needed! Tarps and blankets would be sooo appreciated. We will send out another post, listing out what else we are planning on serving as well as our needs for the meal in the next week.

For Christ who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, Dean & Shelly Mallon & Mike & Cindi Gerkman

Posted by Shelly
For Church Under The Bridge

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can” John Wesley

Next Church Under The Bridge – Sunday, 3/15/09!

Hey Everyone!  We just wanted to send out a quick message outlining the current needs we have for our time downtown this Sunday. 

The Meal

Hamburger Patties  (we are hoping to have enough to serve 125 people)
Hamburger Buns
Sliced cheddar cheese
Assorted Lays Chips (Costco has boxes of 50 ct.)
Bottled Water

Personal Items

Tarps
Blankets
Sweatshirts
Hats
Warm gloves
Underwear
Socks
Lip Balm
Cough Drops
Travel-size hand sanitizer
Individual packets of Kleenex
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Dry dog food

Please contact Shelly Mallon @ shellymedtrans@msn.com or Cindi Gerkman @ cindi@gerkman.com if you are able to donate or supply any of the above-mentioned items.  We appreciate all your prayers and support for those we fellowship with and serve as we gather for the Glory of  God under the Burnside Bridge. 

With gratitude,

Dean, Shelly, Michael & Bailee Mallon and  Mike & Cindi Gerkman

God is Faithful

What a GREAT time in the Lord we shared at our last gathering on March 15th under the Steele Bridge. When I think back to our time under the bridge I am filled with such gratitude. I am so thankful for each and every person who gathered with us to go downtown. The rain was falling and the wind was blowing and yet God’s faithfulness was seen by those who willingly offered themselves to be used by God regardless of their own comfort.

We were unsure of the exact location that God would provide for us to set up since Saturday Market is now in full swing. We found cover from the rain under The Steele Bridge and there was just enough room to set up for the BBQ and to put clothing and personal items out. Serving under The Steele Bridge was an eye opener for us. We were literally setting up in an area where many who we meet downtown call home. In many ways, it felt like they were welcoming us into their home.

I am thankful for the generosity that I witnessed as I watched a man stand in line to grab a cheeseburger. At the same time, he grabbed a plate of warm food for his friend, Jessie, who was disabled and unable to stand in line himself.

I was blessed to hear McKay, a humble man of God, tell me why his faith could not be shaken. He told me that his faith in Christ was secure because he fully realized that he had not sought Christ, it was Jesus who sought him. He told me he was very aware of just how far down Jesus had to go to find him and the knowledge that Christ would meet him in a gutter was more than enough reason for him to trust Him and believe. This is a man who lacks the security of an earthly home, but is fully assured of his home in Heaven and for that He is determined to make something of his life for Jesus. I counted it an honor that McKay asked if I would pray for him, that he would daily give over to Jesus his difficulties with alcohol. He ended our time of prayer, praying for those of us who had come down to spend time with him.

God provided in so many tangible ways for our time under the bridge. Even as we drove downtown the sun began to shine and the rain we did experience came in as light showers. We didn’t have access to our storage unit to gather clothing and items that had been donated in past months, yet we had an abundance of clothing and personal items to share as so many brought clothing, blankets and tarps to hand out that day. Our meal was graciously provided for by the contribution of many. Thank you Ron and Lori for providing hamburgers & hotdogs and to ALL who sacrificially gave so that we were able to serve in abundance to over 100 people. We are also sooo grateful to Shelley Toler who came downtown with us and used her gift of photography to provide a visual journal of our gathering. Pictures will be posted soon to the blog!!

We will be gathering together again on Sunday, April 26th. We are grateful for all of God’s provision and that certainly includes the prayers of many.

A post concerning our next time downtown in April will soon follow. We are excited that Forest Grove Foursquare Church’s youth group will be joining us!!! May Jesus have His way with each one of our hearts as we prepare to take His love to those He loves downtown.

For Jesus,

Dean, Shelly, Michael and Bailee Mallon
Mike and Cindi Gerkman

Update on our next time downtown – Sunday, April 26th!

Hey everyone. Just wanted to send out a message containing info on our next time under the bridge this Sunday, the 26th. We are planning on serving spaghetti and bread. We are so thankful that Karen Fort will be making the spaghetti sauce

Following is a list of our needs concerning the meal:
Spaghetti noodles
Soft rolls
Butter
Bottled water
Fresh fruit
Soft baked goodies without nuts

If anyone is able to provide any of the above-mentioned item(s) please email Shelly at shellymedtrans@msn.com or Cindi Gerkman at cindi@gerkman.com.

Please check out our “General Needs” link for a list of items that are needed on an ongoing basis. Tarps continue to be needed as we are still having rainy nights.

We are so excited to gather again under the bridge with our friends this Sunday. We welcome all who have been a part of Church Under the Bridge before and all who are considering joining us. We are grateful for your continued prayers and grateful to our Lord for His faithfulness and goodness.

Date: Sunday, April 26th, 2009
Time: 1:00 pm Canby, OR – New Life Foursquare Church Parking Lot to carpool to Grace; 1:30 pm Wilsonville, OR – Grace Church Office Parking Lot, Boberg Road to pray and caravan downtown

“The only thing that matters is faith expressing itself through love”
Galatians 5:6

Daniel 12:3

“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, will shine like the stars forever and ever.”

This verse came alive to Dean and I during a recent Bible study in Daniel. What a truth to firmly stand upon … we have the assurance that lights willing to shine in the darkness will shine forever. In Philippians 2:14-16, we are called shining stars in the universe as we continue in the good work God has called us to. We will shine brightly in a world that is becoming increasingly dark.

Jesus always has been and always will be the heart of Church Under The Bridge. We desire to bring the light of His love to all we meet under the bridge. We are assured by God’s word that, as we bring and give the light of Jesus to those He loves downtown, we shine for His glory as stars in the universe and we are making an investment in eternal radiance. As we walk faithfully in this truth, it is our prayer that those we meet downtown will follow us straight to Jesus.

We invite any and all who would like to join us as we gather next under the bridge on Sunday, May 31st.
Date: Sunday, May 31, 2009
Time: 1:00 pm Canby, OR – New Life Foursquare Church Parking Lot to carpool to Grace; 1:30 pm Wilsonville, OR – Grace Church Office Parking Lot, Boberg Road to pray and caravan downtown

We will be serving lasagne again!
Following is a list of our needs concerning the meal:
Pans of lasagne
Soft rolls
Butter
Bottled water
Fresh fruit
Soft baked goodies without nuts

If anyone is able to help with the lasagne or provide any of the other above-mentioned item(s) please email Shelly at shellymedtrans@msn.com or Cindi Gerkman at cindi@gerkman.com.

Please check out our “General Needs” link for a list of items that are needed on an ongoing basis. Tarps continue to be needed as we are still having rainy nights.

Shining Because of Jesus,

The Mallons and the Gerkmans
For Church Under the Bridge