Well, this is starting to get to be a habit; it seems like the only time I’m able to write is late in the evening, but the nice thing about the blog is, you can read it any time of the day, so I thought I’d drop you a few lines. (which is kind of hard for me to do—a few, that is)

Well, we are really excited about what is happening with Victory Family Outreach.  In the next page or so, I will outline some of the things.

We have met an awesome lady, Leann, who is the manager of Flowers’ Bread Bakery. Flower’s Company donates about 100 loaves of bread, hot dog buns, hamburger buns, rolls, plus pastries to the Ministry twice a month. About 20 per cent of this is used directly in the men’s home, while the rest we hand out to needy families in the area. Not only is this ministry helping the men in the Home, but like the name says, we have an “outreach” to the community around us.

In the chapel and study area, we are building a Christian library, whereas we have had four large floor to ceiling bookcases donated to us. What a blessing this has been; one of the visions that God has given us is to open up a library where we can have Christian books and literature, not only for the men to read, but people in the community can freely come and borrow. Right now, we probably have 350 books in our library, and growing on a weekly basis. These are all hand-picked by myself, Pastor T. We have several Christian bookstores and resale shops that donate on a regular basis books for our library. They are enthusiastic on the Outreach in that area.

We also have quite a few resale shops that donate all their Bibles to us. For instance, “The Mustard Tree” in Meridian donated this week 28 pocket-sized New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs, Bibles, plus also a variety of other Bibles.

Every Thursday, between 11 and 12, we bag up these Bibles with information about the Men’s home, and also information about Unity Outreach Missions and hand them out as gifts in front of Piggly Wiggly in Union, Miss. Also, we put Christian books and little gift items for men, women, and children in them. This alone is an awesome ministry, and has a long-term ripple effect on the whole community.

Two Sundays ago, VFO handed out over a hundred loaves of bread, pastries, etc., to families of Victory Fellowship Church, Pastored by Pastor Jack Foster. What an awesome man of God and friend Pastor Jack is; he is truly a Shepherd of his flock and will definitely go and find and help that one lost sheep, no questions asked. What a vision God has given this man; you owe it to yourself to go and visit him at his Church! Services are 10:30 a.m. Sunday and 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 Bible Study on Wednesday evenings. His address is 13920 Hwy 13 S., Union, Miss. 39365. His mailing address is P.O. Box 345, Union, Miss. 39365. His email address is victorypastor1@yahoo.com.  It truly is a lighthouse on a hill.

We have had a hospital outreach now for at least eight months to a year, whereas we not only visit people we know, but now other pastors are asking us to visit their members when they are not able to. This is truly an honor and a privilege for us.

We have just recently been getting involved in visiting Hilltop Manor, which is a Geriatric Care Home. It is really sad; a lot of the patients have Alzheimer’s and just do not have family members who go and visit them. I would like to thank Tracy Smith for bringing this need to our attention. Teresa, my wife, also goes over and ministers to groups of patients, who come to the dining room to listen to her beautiful voice as she sings praise and worship songs to the King. Next week, we will be involved with two other ministries in putting on a small concert for this Home.

All last year, this ministry was extensively involved in a prison ministry with Newton County prison. I myself went Tuesday and Thursday, two hours a night, discipling the men in lockdown on how to become the men that God wants them to be. Jackie Knight, Sheriff of Newton County, was instrumental in helping VFO get involved in this. This year, being so busy in the Home, we have not been able to do this prison ministry, but I feel, starting next week, we will re-implement this program; I have been asked by several people to get back involved with it. Pray that God will open up the time for me to do this.

The men’s home has greatly affected and infected men not only from this area, but also from the Jackson area, which is 100 miles away. God has hooked us up with government agencies and other recovery homes that realize that a Christ-centered recovery home like ours is the only answer to the addictive nature of man. What amazes me here in the south is that the state and local government have bent over backwards to help us in any way possible, because they see the effect that Christ has in a Christian-structured home for men. They realize that the Christ-centered program is the only program that has life-changing, lifelong results. A program like ours makes a man, when he leaves here, a productive member of society.

Beginning around the end of May, VFO will be doing a half-hour Christian radio broadcast about what we’re doing in the area. I’m really excited about what this new Ministry will do in Central Miss. I feel that the format of VFO Radio Ministry will be used to interview Pastors and other individuals who have a burning desire to serve the Lord, for the fields are white unto the harvest. Right now, I am working with 6 Pastors who have a burning desire to help and work with the lost and “untouchables”.

God has opened up the door for Teresa, my gift from God, my wife, to have a music ministry second to none. What an awesome voice she has! Mike Glass heard her beautiful voice and has offered a recording studio, free of charge, to lay down twelve to fifteen songs on two CD’s. Teresa is starting to be in demand to sing in Churches, gatherings, and also she always sings when I go to speak, preach at different Churches. So this will be a way that we can support our ministry by selling our CD’s, not only in Churches, but also over the radio broadcast for any donated amount. You see, we have a theme song for the beginning of our radio program, and we feel this will open up the door for many singing engagements. Halleluiah! God is good!

One of our best friends, Pastor Ed Keen, is having a five-day revival camp meeting at his Church, Beech Springs, in Union, Mississippi. I myself personally will be helping with this County-wide revival. It is really awesome what Pastor Ed will be doing. He will be serving three meals a day, morning, noon, and night, and we at VFO will be supplying all the bread and desserts for this five-day camp meeting. I also committed today that VFO will also supply all the plates, water glasses, napkins, and silverware for this God-given function, and Teresa will also be singing at this revival.

Well, I just looked at the time, and it’s 1:20 a.m. My eyes are getting heavy, because 5:00 a.m. comes early. This short blog is to let you know just about some of the things that are going on with VFO. Other things are in the works, and as they’re happening, we’ll let you know. As Pastor Joe and his wife Carmen once told me, and it’s so true: Slow growth is good growth. What a blessing they have been in my life. Thanks, guys.

Well, as I said in the beginning, just a short note J J Ho, Ho! To let you know what’s going on down here in the south. This area is on fire for Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. Can I hear an Amen?

Your Servant in Christ,

Thomas, “Pastor T.”

‘Love you!