October 2007 News
SEPTEMBER WORK DAY
On September 15th groups from three churches came to work at three different locations. College students from Grace Missionary Church worked on an Englewood house on N. Gray St.

image 15

The guys scrapped paint and caulked the joints on the higher portions of the house.

image 17

It looks better all the time! Thanks guys for all the hard work!
A group from Ben Davis CC continued the demolition process at 19 N. Oxford Street.

image 19
Many hundreds of bricks were removed from the old chimneys that used to run from the crawl space up through both floors of the quad and out the roof. Since the new heating system will be 90% efficient, the chimneys are no longer needed, and by removing them, space is gained and the roof penetrations kept to a minimum.

image 07

Some of the crew spent the whole day chipping off old mortar from the whole bricks, so they can be used again. In the city, materials are recycled as much as possible.

image 09

It was really dirty, but the crew persevered & now reconstruction can begin! Some new supports were added to make the house stable since a lot of the exterior walls have suffered water damage.

image 11

Some people think that an old place like this should just be torn down. In some ways that might be true. However, there are two good reasons not to. First, zoning laws say that if the structure is torn down, you cannot put a four-unit (quad) back on this size lot.
Second, by keeping what looks on the surface to be 'worthless', there is a tremendous opportunity to witness to the 'world' that God is in the restoration business as He restores and renews all things to Himself.

The final project for the day was over on the west side of town at West Park CC, and the group from New Hope CC out of Anderson did a fine job finishing the painting on the parsonage.

image 1

Some of the work was very detailed and some of it was just plain way up high! Jarrod, please be careful!

image 3

So, six hours later, the parsonage looked wonderful and the 90 year old man who lives there could be proud and satisfied. Thanks New Hope for your care and precision!

image 05
October 2007 News (Page Two)
Speaking Engagements
On September 16th Niccole and Ron were given the privilege of sharing the heart and goals of Mission Indy with the congregation at Grace Missionary Church in Mooresville. Pastor Jim Taylor was leading the church through a series on being externally-focused, and so Mission Indy brought the message of how to be the "Hands & Feet" of Jesus in the community where the church is.

Then on October 7th, Ron preached at New Paradigm CC in Broad Ripple, and encouraged that congregation to recognize that God has supplied all they need to be the faithful representation of the wisdom of God in Broad Ripple. Many people expressed their thanks for our being there and delivering that message.
New Board Members
At the August 21st Board Meeting, Mission Indy welcomed two new board members. Diana Ludwig from Chapel Rock CC brings her many years of experience as a business owner and manager, as well as her 10 years of volunteering with MI.

Also, Gordon Miller from Hazelwood CC joined the board. Gordon works as a supervisor for the Indianapolis Jet Center. He has worked with the youth at Hazelwood and been on several mission trips. He is also an elder with the church at Hazelwood.
Weddings
Ron had the privilege of officiating two very special weddings in October.

The first was on October 13th when Emily Willen and Mark Sherer began their new life together. Emily grew up at Chapel Rock and was a vital part of some of the early years of Mission Indy.

The second wedding was October 27th in Estes Park, Colorado. Brittany Roberston, who also grew up at Chapel Rock, married Dan Riethmiller from the Ft. Wayne area. Brittany spent several Saturdays throughout high school volunteering with Mission Indy!
Jr. Hi Journey
image 29

For the third year in a row, Mission Indy was the featured ministry for a conference organized by Indianapolis-area youth ministers for Jr. Hi youth. About 600 hundred students and their sponsors attended the conference October 19-21 at the Marriot East.

image 25

Niccole & Ron did a "dueling mic" routine to explain what Mission Indy is all about and encourage the youth groups present to come and talk with us.

image 27

Jaimie Pope who served with MI as Summer Staff '07 graciously came down from Anderson University to share a little of her story from the summer. It was especially appropriate that a college student shared with the teens because, as the featured ministry, the offering that was taken up was given to Mission Indy to provide one of those college student's summer salary! A little over $1400 was given for this purpose and we are so thankful for this blessing!
College Visits
This is the season for visiting colleges to recruit for Summer Staff for the summer of 2008. The week of October 1st, Ron visited Milligan College, Johnson Bible College and Asbury College. At all schools we set up our display near the student dining area and are able to talk with interested students on their way to or from their meals. It is most effective when we are invited into classrooms to present the Summer Staff Program, and to ask students to come talk with us. At Johnson, Ron went into three classes and was asked to teach an Urban Ministry class. That opportunity really gets our name out there and we are thankful for the opportunities.

On October 8th Niccole visited Anderson University and was able to talk with several students including summer of '07 veterans, Eryn Britt and Jaimie Pope.

Ron attended a ministry fair at St. Louis CC on October 29th. The president of SLCC, Dr. Guthrie Veech, took Ron on a tour of the North City Church of Christ, a recent church plant by a graduate of SLCC. The site in a rough inner-city neighborhood now serves as the inner-city campus for SLCC. 5-6 students now live and take classes on site. It was very exciting!

On October 30th, Ron was at Greenville College where Kelsey Clausen (summer of '07) is a sophomore. Several students have heard from Kelsey what a good program MI has, so we are hopeful to keep a connection there with a student or two for 2008.

Then on October 30th & 31st, Ron visited Lincoln CC. He had the chance to speak in one class and to visit with several students in the dining area. One of the main attractions for the students is to look at the pictures on our display. Thanks Shannon for being so photogenic and attracting students to come talk!

Back to top

Thank you for your faithful support!

Last Updated: Dec 19, 2007