Newsletter

Freinds,

Just a note of thanks and appreciation for your prayers and your support for Kokomo Urban Outreach. I am preparing a newsletter to be mailed to all of those that would like to receive it. Email me with your address ( urban.outreach@gmail.com ). I have had many people ask me what we have been doing, so I will share it, knowing that it is not about me, but how God is using a whole bunch of people to do the work:

• We have been in Kokomo for 5 months.
• We have received financial support from 13 individual families
• We have received financial support from 2 churches (Grace UMC and St. Luke's UMC)
• The Attica Thrift has also supported us
• I have had the opportunity to speak at two churches--Grace and St. Luke's--and the Kokomo Kiwanis club
• I have visited the following ministries and community leaders: Bridges, Congo Cares, Birthright, Nesting Doves, CAM, Headstart, Salvation Army, the Housing Authority, Kokomo Rescue Mission, Open Arms, Caleb Ministries, Crisis Center, Howard County Foundation, Red Cross, the Superintendent of Kokomo Schools, the Majors office, the police department, and have met individually with 18 pastors.
• I have attended a weekly Tuesday Morning Men's breakfast
• Monthly United Methodist Pastor's Breakfast
• Wednesday Lunch Men's Bible Study---The Huddle
• Coordinated 5 weeks of displaced hurricane family relocation into Kokomo--working with 17 families of the 22 identified in town
• Worked on a Walk to Emmaus Weekend
• Planned life skill classes at Garden Square Apartments--Cooking classes
• Cook out in Backyard for neighborhood
• Went through neighborhood and collected 500 items to be sent on truck to Mississippi
• Have knocked on every door in a five block square of our house and have met about 60% of people
• Worked with UAW to distribute school supplies to those in need
• Worked at a carnival at a local school with school supplies as prizes
• Was a driver on a Bridges field trip
• Laundry Ministry
• Attended District meetings and I am on the District Board of Ministry, mentoring a candiate for ministry
• We popped popcorn on our porch for Halloween and met a great number of neighbors
• For fun I have been walking, doing Internet podcasts (radio shows) with a friend, watching Marching Band Completions and spending time with family
• In the church we working on a church "Restart" hopefully making a church/ community center
• We will be working with a local church on Sunday Nights providing a Children's Ministry with games, stories, crafts and dinner
• We will be serving Thanksgiving Dinner in the church on Wednesday before Thanksgiving in cooperation with the Rescue Mission
• The Salvation Army will not be providing food baskets at Thanksgiving, nor will anyone else in town due to lack of funds. We with the help of other churches are going to provide food baskets to families in need from two of the poorest elementary schools in town.

None of the things accomplished is done alone or in a vacuum. We have been experiencing a movement of God that has been incredible. We know that God will provide our needs. We have a great prayer support team and have worked with many volunteers. The Hurricane Relief provided me with many opportunities to meet community leaders and build networks within the community. Chris and the our sons spend a great deal of time in this ministry.

Our greastest Prayer Needs:

• To find jobs to supplement income (we have applied for many)
• Presently Kokomo Urban Outreach is an extension Ministry of Trinity Church, however, we need a board of directors in place soon (we are working on this now)
• Administrative help, setting up data bases and proof reading stuff I write etc
• Webmaster, I believe a web page would be a fast way of communicating with others.
• Those that we are working with might become followers of Jesus

Thank You
Jeff Newton