  |
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|||
|
|
||
|
June Newsletter 2008 PASTOR MAX WALKER SAYS... EDITORIAL: Just as Jesus wept over Jerusalem I’m convinced that today Jesus weeps over our community. He looked at Jerusalem and saw it as God’s chosen place but it was so far from being a place of Godly love and compassion that it brought tears to His eyes. It was religious, it was brash, it was noisy and busy yet it had lost the simplicity of caring for the things of God and the needs of people. As I read this it reinforced the need for each of us to care for those about us. You may not have the answers, you don’t need a diploma in counseling, you don’t need a title before your name, you just need to care and demonstrate by your sharing the love and compassion of Jesus. Loneliness is very much the disease of this decade and is reaching epidemic proportions. We see it manifest in the lost youth who come through our doors grieved by the loss of family and seeking solace in drugs, alcohol and sex. Others have lost their children and are desperately lonely and bitter at a system that failed to support them at their times of greatest need. There is the guy just out of prison that no one wants to know. The one who has stuffed up with Centre link and needs a feed. The older lady swallowing her pride to come in for a meal at Cornerstone rather than letting her family know how bad things are with her. Sad face after sad face, depressed , oppressed and often desperate. This the face of many in our community. They come in day after day to Cornerstone. They are not looking for religion as many have sought out the religious and been turned away because they did not fit the religious cookie cutter used to measure whether they were worthy to be helped. They want somewhere where someone will listen to their story, actually care for them, where they can feel safe, where they can gradually feel they belong. Some stay! Others stay for a season and move on! A few rip us off! Some become able to function more effectively. Through the love demonstrated to them and the acceptance of them some will re-evaluate their life while others remain as they were but secure in knowing that they are accepted. Some get to know this Jesus, the friend of sinners and outcasts. Cornerstone is a God thing that touches thousands of lives each year and brings a smile not only to the faces of those who attend but also to the face of God. Pastor Max Walker.
Visitors to Cornerstone: Over the past month there has been a continuous stream of visitors attending Cornerstone and spending time with staff and volunteers discovering the many faceted programs that make up Cornerstone. The Dove: Mothers Day was a special Sunday BBQ in Autumn place and Levi and his team of volunteers providing a BBQ for the many people who attended that day. The regular Tuesday Drop In and lunch is going well with a dedicated group of volunteers. Average attendance is between 35 – 40 people each week. Levi is increasingly busy in the local area sharing with and visiting people as well as attending a variety of community meetings as he seeks to effectively minister in the city. Levi is also a welcome addition to Cornerstone Wednesday and Friday Drop In programs. Several of the Dove and Cornerstone folk attended Levi and Rhyanon’s wedding. Bread: At the beginning of the month the lady who has collected bread from the Bakeries since we began lunches in 1996 announced that due to a policy change she was no longer able to provide this service to us. This was a great shock to us all as we all appreciated her dedication to this task for so long. The impact of this was immediately felt by the many people who come in to pick up bread to meet their needs. Fortunately after several very barren Wednesdays we have been able to again provide free bread. Due to this problem we have also been able to procure bread on a Friday. Housing: This is a continuing problem in the area with the number of people seeking accommodation exceeding the number of public houses available. The rental market is beyond the average Cornerstone participant. This continually growing problem means that more and more people face the prospect of being homeless. Partnership: The Material Aid Network for Greater Dandenong is flourishing and the Council has decided to continue the three year funding. Members, such as Cornerstone, will sign formal agreements with the Council in the immediate future. Increase in Numbers: Over the past month as the economic situation worsens Cornerstone is regularly feeding over a hundred people on a Wednesday and a Friday. Saturday Night and Sunday programs have also increased in size. With the escalation of food costs this has put extreme pressure on the budget and Cornerstone is exploring a variety of options in regard to the acquisition of food supplies. Don’s Para: It’s been another busy month with Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons at Cornerstone having larger than usual attendances. I remember the days in the early 1990’s when we first opened and I’m so thankful we have gas heaters now. Some of our people don’t have heating where they live and enjoy the physical warmth of Cornerstone when we open on cold days. One Wednesday a man took hold of my hand and proceeded to thank me over and over again not letting go of my hand. The previous Friday he had asked that we pray for his Father who was in poor health and struggling to walk. That weekend his health improved and he walked further than he had in a long time. It’s great to have numbers at the Friday afternoon prayer group growing and even hearing from people who don’t want to attend but value Christian prayer in their lives and for their loved ones. I told the man to thank God for his Father’s improved health and we would continue praying for him and others. With more rain the Cornerstone roof has again been damaged with guttering falling off this time. I’m very thankful for ‘Richie the Roof Tiler’ who I first met playing football with the MIDDWAY Cobras. Richie is doing the work free of charge if we supply the materials which are costly but definitely needed. The MIDDWAY Cobras have picked up a major sponsor in Grendas Bus lines which pretty much ensures the club’s survival with free bus hire to all our away games. Many thanks to Grendas Bus lines for their fantastic charity work in the community. Several people I know are currently in prison serving time for offenses they admitted to and now regret. I’ve been writing many letters each week and occasionally receive one back hearing about the long and lonely time spent in prison cells where they have lots of time to think over past actions. Some have written open letters and encouraged me to read them to others warning of the dangers of selfish living and the consequences of reckless behavior. These letters might come in handy when speaking to young people who look like they are heading down the wrong track. Every Tuesday I lead a prayer service (short Church service) at the Dandenong Psychiatric hospital and today I shared from the old testament book of Habakkuk 3:17+ “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” I had a great response as patients found meaning in these Scriptures that encouraged them to trust God’s promises regardless of their present circumstances. Many of the people who come into Cornerstone are struggling in various ways and the words of the bible are as relevant today as they have ever been. I’ve given away a stack of bibles this year and continue to buy more to hand out at Cornerstone. A couple of people I know are reading through the bible for the first time and are amazed at what it contains. I remember that feeling well when I first read it through in 1990. See me if you want one and I’ll be happy to get one to you. I’m grateful for Gideon’s who still supply bibles to hospitals even though they aren’t in drawers anymore. I usually hand out a couple each week when I am at the Dandenong hospital. On a sad note, a Cornerstone regular called ‘Linda’ passed away a few weeks ago. Many remember sipping coffee with her over the years and her cheery smirk when she told a funny story. She will be missed and we are reminded that life really is short and nothing in this life is permanent. We thank God for knowing Linda and we will treasure our memories of her time at Cornerstone. If you have any ideas, suggestions, comments or even complaints, please give me a call or come and see me. MARANATHA! Pastor Don Cameron Work: 9794 5654 / 0415 888 528
For further details check out the website or contact us as indicated below. * All correspondence to CEO c/o PO Box 358 Dandenong. 3175.
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cornerstone operates under the business name Cornerstone Contact Centre Inc. (AOO29459A) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
