August Sidewalk Sunday School

Risk takers steps out in faith for Him. When we know that God is wanting us to be "Risk Takers" and we invest our time, money, prayers, the Word, and live by serving others, how can we fail? We can't because the Word tells us, "He who lives in us is greater than he who lives in the world." We can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us.

Christ has predestined (preplanned) our works (mission) in advance. God did not save us so that we could just be Sunday church goers, but to be DOERS not just hearers. Jesus has a mission for each and every one of us to accomplish for His Kingdom gain in every generation. All which has been planned in advance and perfectly timed. In His sovereignty, God has chosen to do His work through us. If we miss our ministry, we will miss our entire purpose in remaining here.

Faith is the key. When we step out and put complete trust in God, we become His Risk Takers. God does all the work through us by giving Him our hearts, hands, and feet. I am challenging each one of you to become a "Risk Taker" by stepping out and sharing with others about KUO/SWSS, and if you are not involved with us, pray and see where God wants you to serve. He may just want you to be a prayer warrior or He may want your hands and feet to be used as His.

God has blessed us so abundantly at KUO with awesome volunteers, provisions, prayers being answered, and He just keeps opening doors for us. God has allowed us to be Risk Takers and to step out in faith by starting another site of SWSS in September. We are headed to Stoney Creek Mobile Home Community. There are approximate 30+ kids . I am so excited about going there and building relationships with them and their families. Most importantly, sharing the love of Christ with them.

If you feel the Spirit tugging on your heart to be a Risk Taker on Saturday, September 15th from 2:00-3:00, please email me. Please pray and seek God for His guidance and wisdom about where He wants you to be used as His Risk taker. I want to share this inspiration poem with all of you and it would be a prayer to meditate on. Then listen for the Spirit to speak to you. It is by St. Teresa of Avila.

Christ has

No body now on earth but yours;

No hands but yours;

No feet but yours;

Yours are the eyes

Through which is to look out

Christ's compassion to the world;

Yours are the feet

With which he is to go about

Doing good;

Yours are the hands

With which he is to bless now.

AMEN

Love In Christ.... Miss Mary

COOKOUTS AT PINE VALLEY

Our cookouts are still going great!!! We have wonderful volunteers who are very devoted in coming out every Sunday and serving the residents at Pine Valley.

We have been serving 50+ every week. We have developed close relationships with a lot of the families. They offer to help us serve and clean up.

Our volunteers from Alto UMC brought two flavors of ice cream last week. That was really a hit!! I don't know who enjoyed it the most, adults or the kids. HA!!

Thank you to all of you who comes to help serve, donates, and you prayer

warriors. God has truly blessed us at both sites.

All of you are invited to join us at PV any Sunday. We are there around 3:00 at the Community Center and start serving between 4:15 and 4:30. We stop at 5:30.

Again, THANK YOU from all of us at KUO. God bless, Mary

SUMMER SIDEWALK SUNDAY SCHOOL

WOW!!! How time flies when you are having fun. We have just finished our first Summer Sidewalk Sunday School``. We averaged 10 kids from Garden Square on Thursdays and 14 kids at Pine Valley on Fridays. The kids really enjoyed the lessons on the "Sermon on the Mount". Better known as The Beatitudes. The kids learned that we are to have the attitude and views of Christ. I told them that if they confess that Jesus lives in their hearts, then they must "Walk the Talk". Let others see Jesus in them. During our last seeion, instead of separating in small groups, we prayed over all of them. I shared with them that we were still doing the cookouts but ending SWSS until mid September. (Alto UMC will be leading it. Praise God!!) They wished we could still do SWSS . I might squeeze in a bible story and singing with the kids at our cookouts. When we have extra volunteers, we usually play games with them. They love the parachute.

I would like to say "THANK YOU" to all of the volunteers that helped me with SSWSS. Thank you for sharing your love for Christ and serving others. All of you really did a great job. Also for all who donated snacks, supplies, and prayers. May God bless each one of you more abundantly for your faithfulness and obediencee to Him. Faithfully Serving, Miss Mary

THANK YOU!!!!!!

A big THANK YOU to Grace UMC for a great VBS. Thank you for organizing and sharing VBS with all of us at KUO. The kids really had a blast. We averaged 60+ kids per night. It was an amazing and awesome week.

Also, THANK YOU for an incredible first ever "Block Party" Friday night for all of the kids and their families at Garden Square. The fellowship, food and music by Stephen Sherwood and Praise band, WOW!! WOW!!! WOW!! They are so anointed with theirmusic, praise and worship. You guys were great!!! The families loved it!! You have been asked to come back and do another concert. Thank You!! We love you all for your love for Christ and your testimonies. You blessed all of us. God bless you guys over and over...Mary Ingle

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Individual Volunteers

We appreciate and thank every volunteer!!While many come to work with their church groups many come to help on their own. Every volunteer that filled out a form for the summer are listed below:

1. Angie Sparks
2. Harry Sparks
3. Betty Spencer
4. Jackie Patterson
5. Gloria Strickland
6. Eve Yohn
7. Pam Yohn
8. Chris Newton
9. Pete Blue
10. Norma Blue
11. Jamie Willis
12. Ed Catron
13. Pat Catron
14. Grant Poytner
15. Margi Bailey
    
16. Avery Cosley
    
17. Suzanne Phillips
18. Judy Whorley
19. Dinny Bailey
20. Mary Ingle
21. Melissa Zimmerman
22. Stephanie Berghoff
23. Karen Malone
24. Jerry Berghoff
25. Pam Grohman
    
26. Suzie Zody
27. Lanna Kirtley
    
28. Margret Brown
    
29. Shirley Hoy
30. Dee Hostetler
31. Gary Hostetler
32. Boyd Mozingo
33. April Mozingo
34. Dan Mozingo
    
35. Cindi Meyers
36. Walt Doering
37. Melba Doering
38. Evan Strong
39. Mike Tarner
40. Jean Tarner
41. Marla Edmonds
42. Judy Rider
43. Allison Berghoff
44. Richard Lightsey
45. Sawyer Lightsey
46. Karen Zimmerman
47. Leanna Zimmerman
48. Peter Inman
49. Molly Lauterbach
50. John Alexander
51. Sandy Hurst
52. Sheri Fogelberg
53. Mark Sloss
54. Courtney Fogelberg
55. Eric Fogelberg
56. Anna Sloss
57. Ron Harper
58. David Plantenga
59. Madelyn Stanforth
60. Mark Stanforth
61. Robin Van Auken
62. Jerry Van Auken
63. Martha Howshaw
64. Andrew Van Auken
65. Joel Van Auken
66. Vanessa Grohman
67. Aaron Van Auken
68. Cathy Shaw
69. Nick Osborne
70. Kirsten Milliron
71. Levi Millron
72. Travis Taflinger
73. Casey Cline
74. Alyse Adkins
75. Brandon Kidwell
76. Keri Barnes
77. Colby Cuthbert
78. Kara Blattner
79. Shelia Bailey
80. Val Cuthbert
81. Val Harris
82. Brad Johnson
83. Emily Thice
84. Alex Kohne
85. Jordan Kohne
86. Cindy Kohne
87. Pat Kohne
88. Bill Ramseyer
89. Paula Shrock
90. Lori Collins
91. Katie Vahie
92. Molly Locke
93. Katie Davisson
94. Kritie Vahle
95. Jim Williams
96. Susan Garner
97. Liza Fiers
98. Taylor Kennedy
99. Erik Kile
100. Clarinda Crawford
101. John Vahle
102. Tracy Campbell
103. Bonnie Minor
104. David Kilty
105. Regina Kilty
106. Walter Rossmanith
107. Martha Rossmanith
     
108. Beth Swing
109. Kent Kessler
110. Bruce Larson
     
111. April Larson
112. Sandy Wilhoite
113. John Stark
114. Teri Stark
115. Emily Stark
116. Alexandria stark
117. Anna Stark
118. Mike Lupoi
119. Cristi Brewer-Allen
120. McKale Brewer
121. Brevin Allen
122. Tireon Allen
123. Rylee Burnet
124. Kasey May
125. Kaile Branch
126. Modeline Cassidy
127. Ashli Minor
128. Kaylee Johnson
129. Bailey Sandlin
130. Whitney Weir
131. Heather Hemmeger
132. Brittany Camp
133. Darrian Greene
134. Ashely Neniman
135. Aly Robins
136. Mark McClure
137. Jennifer McClure
138. Christine McClure
139. Kimberley McClure
140. Allexandria McClure
141. Jeremiah McClure
142. Ann Ihms
143. Hannah Ihms
144. Bruce Bryant
145. Peggy Hawk
146. Shirley Hatfield
147. Marsha Sanders
148. Nolan Sanders
149. Cameron Sanders
     
150. Elizabeth Hoover
151. Michael Meehan
152. Renate Musgrove
153. Debbie Meehan
154. Debbie Mitts
155. Courtney Mitts
156. Betty Corn
157. Betty Fields
158. Christine Whitaker
159. Linda Reed
160. Deanna Ancil
161. Sherry Matlock
162. Gale Eikenberry
163. Bev Wartenburger
164. Lee Pike
165. Kevin Cornell
166. Dan Grinsdale
167. Joyce Eikenberry
168. Thomas McGrew
169. Jim Fuller
170. Harry Williams
171. Joyce Ancil
172. Jason Kelly
173. Marsha Ward
174. Geri Brewster
175. Robert Bell
176. Kati Carter
177. Jenny Jones
178. Victoria Failor
179. Hailey Quacles
180. Nathan Vent
181. Ashley Newton
182. Stephanie Hollingsworth
     
183. Micah Kistler
184. Brodic Malone
185. Rachael Arredondo
186. John Wheeler
187. Matt Boicourt
188. Kyle Wysong
189. Candra Smith
190. Christina Galloway
191. Dannielle Reed
192. James Reed
193. James Miller
194. Mary Miller
195. Mona Phifer
196. Stacy Stoyke
197. Dixie Hogan
198. Mike Klutzank
199. Alan Weaver
200. Ethel Devine
201. Mallory Willis
     
202. John King
     
203. Shem Nuss
     
204. Denise Renhenberger
205. Jerry Renhenberger
206. Tom Collins
207. Andrea Brown
208. Kelcy Compton
209. Alan Burns
210. Anne Reder
211. Alex Eruer
212. Margaret Gillis
213. Jeneal Hunt
214. Sam Locke
215. Amy Ayers
216. David Ancil
217. James Jacobs
218. Nick Kile
219. Kim Kile
220. Emily Kile
221. Erik Kile
222. Erin Kay Kile
223. Ethan Kile
224. Carol Bachiniski
225. Beverly Kussy
226. Patrice Martin
227. Nancy Scaggs
228. Steven Sherwood
229. Wayne Pence
     
230. Barbara Kinsler

Not included in this list are all that volunteered but did not fill out a volunteer form. Not appearing on the above list were about 30 helpers for VBS, 15 helpers at Give for the Good Day, 20 helpers who arrive at cook-out site, some of the bean pickers at the Garden and 4 more people in the band at the VBS Celebration. We are pushing 300 summer volunteers. The danger of listing everyone is excluding someone. I can easily add someone here. Let me know if you or someone you know were omitted. Jeff

Community Garden

The Community Garden of Kokomo has provided KUO with fresh produce all summer. Recently, volunteers from KUO went to the garden and picked beans. Over 450 pounds were picked by KUO volunteers.

Thank you Community Garden and volunteers

Kawanis International

The Sunriser Kawanis Club recently, presented KUO for a check to purchase back packs for children.



Thank You Kawanis

Main St. United Methodist Church

Main St. UMC's Vacation Bible School collected offerings through the week and then purchased laundry soap for KUO to give to those in need. Main St. recently, became a distribution point for Angel Food Ministries.

Main St. also is the home of "God's Neighborhood Closet"!

Thanks Main St.

First Presbyterian Church

First Presbyterian Church has sent many volunteers to help on Sunday night. Recently some of their members have been providing us with food for lunches and cookouts. They have also provided some Angel Food Ministry boxes to some families. Several of the church have been prayer walking their neighborhood.


Thank You First Presbyterian

Shiloh

The folks at Shiloh gave me an opportunity to speak at their church recently, and presented KUO with a check.

Thanks Shiloh

McGrawsville

Several folks from McGrawsville help us each week. Boyd, April and Dan pull the trailer and makes sure it is packed back correctly while Gary and Dee keep us organized and the hotdogs grilled.

Thanks McGrawsville

The Huddle

The Kokomo Huddle presented KUO with a new portable grill that is used at Pine Valley and enough lemonade mix to make 500 gallons of lemonade. I would like to personally thank Rex Gingrich and Dick Sanburn Kokomo Huddle Board members for their support of KUO.

Trinity UMC

Trinity is the church I pastor. Trinity has given us space of our office and much of what we do is filtered through the church building. During the recent lunches many from Trinity helped prepare, serve and clean-up the meals. They include:

• Angie Sparks
• Harry Sparks
• Eve Yohn
• Betty Spencer
• Mary Ingle
  
• Chris Newton
• Pete Blue
• Norma Blue
• Pam Yohn
• Dinny Bailey
• Jamie Willis
• Judy Whorley

Thanks Trinity for all you do!!!

Faith United Methodist Church

Faith UMC(my home church) under the leadership of Pastor Evan Strong has provided the outreach with hotdogs, peanut butter and volunteers.

Thanks Faith UMC

Christ Lutheran Church

Christ Lutheran under the leadership of Pastor Mark Sloss have sent their youth to help us on several occasions this past summer. Recently, they provided the outreach with school supplies.


Thank you Christ Lutheran

St. Andrews

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church under the leadership of Father Richard Lightsey was one of the first churches to come on board at KUO. This summer St. Andrew's youth has continued supporting us during our cook-outs. The youth and their leaders do a great job interacting with the children.


Thanks St. Andrews

First Church of God

The First Church of God Youth Group has helped with cook-outs each month. They play with the children. One guy spent a great deal of time teaching children how to play "jacks". They also have helped draw pictures on sidewalks, jump rope, play balls, throw Frisbees etc. etc.


Thanks First Church of God!!!

Parish Nurses

Parish Nurses from churches all over the county have been coming to the cook-outs at Garden Square on the second Sunday of each month. They have been doing blood pressure checks. They have had a great response each time, not only are they taking blood pressures they are building relationships. Often mother's ask questions about their children. Parish Nurse, Cindi Meyers, is spearhead a drive to bring smoking cessation classes to the neighborhood.

Thanks Parish Nurses and Cindi.

Alto United Methodist Church

Alto United Methodist Church under the leadership of Pastor Kent Kessler have been putting on weekly cook-outs at Pine Valley(another government housing apartment complex). They have provided much of the food and volunteers, along two KUO staff members. The church gave away back packs and school supplies. This fall they will take over Sidewalk Sunday School giving us a chance to move into a third area.


Thanks Alto!!!!

Russiaville UMC

Russiaville UMC under the leadership of Pastor Mike Tarner has been a big supporter of KUO. Our friends from Russiaville :

• Have provided hamburgers for cookout
• Have served in some fashion each week at the cook-outs
  
• Had a back to school clothing give-away at the cookout site. They put tarps on the ground and filled it full of clothing.
  
• Under the leadership of Judy and Marla have provided sewing lessons. Participants have made everything from pillows to pot holders.
  

Thanks to all of our friends from Russiaville UMC

Lowell United Methodist Church

A group from Lowell UMC which is not too far from Chicago spent a Sunday Afternoon, learning about KUO and helping us with cook-out. It was great to see old friends. It was such a blessing.

Thanks to all my friends from Lowell.

Bishop's Christmas Offering

The local school system provided lunches for neighborhood children from the time school ended until July 20. We began serving lunch the following week, we thought about 20-30 meals a day, we averaged about 100 meals a day. The difference concerned me as we did not have the food nor the money to keep that going for 18 days. I wondered what we were going to do. About the third day, I received a letter from the Bishop. I quickly opened it, as it is rare that I would receive a letter from the bishop. There was a check enclosed for $1400.00!!!! It was a portion of "The Bishop's Christmas Offering", that goes to children in poverty. God is good!!! We spent almost all of it, serving over 1,750 lunches.

Thank You Bishop Coyner and all the churches that collected the offering.

Bradley United Methodist Church

Pastor Clarinda Crawford from Greenfield, IN, has led two teams to Kokomo to help with our Sunday Night Outreach. Not only did they bring some great volunteers, they also brought lots of food....hotdogs, chips, cookies etc, etc, etc.


Thanks to Bradley UMC

St. Luke's United Methodist Church

During their Forty Days of Community program various small groups from St. Luke's UMC:

• made 100's of homemade cookies
• repaired bikes
• supplied dinner
• provided food

Along with the above:

• Vacation Bible School provided potato chips for cook-outs all summer
• One small group led by Lori Collins came to cookouts and did bike repair, did a personal hygiene education/ giveaway, and brought watermelon and taught kids new songs.
• Provided Back Packs

Thanks St. Lukes

Grace United Methodist Church

Grace United Methodist Church:

• will house Crisis Child Care Center
• provided a grant of $5,000 for the Center
• brought Vacation Bible School to Trinity providing leadership and all resources plus their children attended
• put together a closing VBS celebration in Apartment complex with over 300 served
• provided back packs and hygiene supplies
• Susan Garner read and distributed books to neighborhood children
• provided volunteers for a lunch
• is the home church of summer intern Melissa Zimmerman
• provided laptop and projector for power point presentations
  

Leadership Kokomo Thanks

Leadership Kokomo has provided KUO with:

• A new fully equipped utility trailer(grills, toys, utensils, sound system, coolers, chairs, tables)
  
• New shelving updating of our food storage area
  
• One hundred plus backpacks with personal hygiene supplies in each one

Thanks Leadership Kokomo for your generosity.

Crossroads Community Church

Thanks to Crossroads for giving me a chance to share the story of KUO at their Saturday Night service and to allow a board member to share during the two Sunday Morning Services. I also want to thank Crossroads for sending several of KUO teens to their church camp for free. Thanks Steph. We also have had several volunteers this summer from the church along with regular volunteers Stephanie Berghoff and Karen Malone and their families.

Bridges Outreach

Bridges Outreach spent a day at KUO packing picnic dinners for the Vacation Bible School bash held at the end of July. Bridges also went door to door at Garden Square and Pine Valley passing out bags of groceries. Three hundred bags were distributed.


Thanks Bridges Outreach!!!

Community Foundation of Howard County

The Community Foundation of Howard County:

• provided a series of workshops relating to non-profit capacity building
• in cooperation with the Indiana Youth Institute provided KUO with a mini-grant that will enable us to receive 50 hours of non-profit consultation and coaching

Thanks Community Foundation

Serving in Love

Serving in Love:

• is helping us expand in different areas of outreach throughout Kokomo
• has offered to train churches to tutor/mentor in schools

Thanks "Serving in Love"

Kokomo Rescue Mission

Thank You Kokomo Rescue Mission!!! This summer the mission has:

• provided some food for our lunches
• provided us with a freezer
• delivers products from Frito-Lay
• been a source of encouragement for me