Praise the LORD!!!
It all started, or I should say "in the free world," back in June of 1999. What started you may ask? The formation of "Vine of CHRIST Ministries," in the free world. For it had originally begun while I was incarcerated and though I'd been out of prison for some months, it took a while to get things started. Most of these first months after my incarceration were spent in a halfway house, so my ministry works were greatly restricted to their rules.
Shortly afterwards though I began collecting the needed information and contacts. I'd already found a church home, so I soon enlisted their help also and it was on quickly after release from the halfway house. I rented a two bedroom house with a full basement and the basement was ideal for collection and storage needs. Soon I was gathering far more than it was possible for me, with the current limited connections, to pass along. I began donating in mass, items that I was being given, to other local ministries. Some times passing on over 500 items of clothing and food products for their dispersal to people in great need. Most of these went to non denominational groups, because they didn't have the "affiliated" requirements that the denominational ministries did.
Even though it's been almost twelve years of working by myself, I'll continue another twelve alone if that's the LORD's will. I've personally had my hands involved in almost every area of operation that the ministry will have. Yet still, due to my lack of business "smarts", I've not been able to get the ministry recognized as a 501.3 c non profit. I've gotten most of the needed paperwork required, but just don't have the kowledge to bring it all together. Does this bother me? In a small way, yes! But GOD didn't call me as HE has, because of my business smarts. HE's called me because I listen and no matter "crazy" an idea sounds, I go with it, wholeheartedly, giving it my all and fearing nothing!!!
Sure, I'm on the verge of homelessness, but it's not the first time:) I'm working on a disabled computer, that's not the first time either! It boils down to the fact that I trust GOD with my future, completely, no doubts and no regrets. What tomorrow holds, only HE knows for sure and I trust that it will be for HIS glory and not mine. For I am but flesh and bone, shaped in HIS likeness, graced to bring HIM glory with every breath that I take!!!
May GOD bless you and guide you,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
Showing posts with label homelessness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homelessness. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Monday, December 28, 2009
New 'branch' for the 'VINE'
Praise the LORD!!!
As of yesterday, I'm being led to start another new branch for the ministry. This one will be international in scope. Vine Ministerial Network International (V.M.N.I.) will be its name. It will be multifunctional in actions. There will be evangelism outreaches to many countries around the globe, discipleship training schools, along with the standard disaster relief operations.
This has me a bit stifled. Because currently I'm living in a host family's home, with a backpack full of clothes, a few hand tools and this ancient computer system (that freezes up typing emails:)) You can count on the fact that I've been talking a great deal with the LORD over this matter and the answer keeps coming back, 'trust in ME!' If there is one thing that I truly do, that is trust GOD!!! All the things HE's done throughout my life are amazing, it boggles my mind to think I waited so long to turn the controls over to HIM! I was 39 and had lived 26 of it in heavy drug use and all sorts of sinful behavior. More details on this can be found in my book "Out of the LIGHT" at the ministry's website, so I'll not go into it all here. To say the least, I wasn't one that you'd think would ever be successful, let alone running an international Christian helps ministry. GOD can surely amaze us at times.
Since the LORD opened my eyes to HIS calling in '95' I've totally given HIM the control over what I do. The results can be seen by doing a online search of my name or that of the ministry. Ever little detail of it has been at the LORD's leading, even the prayers and the few games I play to relax. Now I'm no computer guru, not even close, but I've been highly blessed to produce the ministry's website, all by myself. To date almost everything I've done has been 100% done by these hands and feet that the LORD has blessed me with. All moneys, well 98% of, have come from my own pockets through work that I've done outside the ministry.
Yet with all this being said and done, there are three people at this moment working on translating my book into a foreign tongue. I've been asked to come to two nations, Liberia and India, to preach and evangelize. Through one of these two men has come the formulation of this branch of the ministry, to open the door for it by having it legalized before his government. Now the fact that VCM was going to be a world reaching ministry isn't new to me, but when I've not even yet begun to break ground on that part of it here in the states!
There are hundreds of details that have yet to be taken care of here, let alone those that will come with the addition of an international branch.I spent several hours today, walking around the house talking with GOD, bearing my soul to HIM (there's no one home but me.) I talk to GOD like I would my earthly father, with respect and straight from the heart. If something has distressed me, I let HIM know it and this has me a bit stirred up. As I said though, the answers keep coming back the same, "Trust in ME." There is truly only one that I trust anymore, for I don't even trust myself, that is GOD and GOD alone. So I guess what I'm saying is, Vine of CHRIST Ministries is going international, with it's branch Vine Ministerial Network International !!!
As of yesterday, I'm being led to start another new branch for the ministry. This one will be international in scope. Vine Ministerial Network International (V.M.N.I.) will be its name. It will be multifunctional in actions. There will be evangelism outreaches to many countries around the globe, discipleship training schools, along with the standard disaster relief operations.
This has me a bit stifled. Because currently I'm living in a host family's home, with a backpack full of clothes, a few hand tools and this ancient computer system (that freezes up typing emails:)) You can count on the fact that I've been talking a great deal with the LORD over this matter and the answer keeps coming back, 'trust in ME!' If there is one thing that I truly do, that is trust GOD!!! All the things HE's done throughout my life are amazing, it boggles my mind to think I waited so long to turn the controls over to HIM! I was 39 and had lived 26 of it in heavy drug use and all sorts of sinful behavior. More details on this can be found in my book "Out of the LIGHT" at the ministry's website, so I'll not go into it all here. To say the least, I wasn't one that you'd think would ever be successful, let alone running an international Christian helps ministry. GOD can surely amaze us at times.
Since the LORD opened my eyes to HIS calling in '95' I've totally given HIM the control over what I do. The results can be seen by doing a online search of my name or that of the ministry. Ever little detail of it has been at the LORD's leading, even the prayers and the few games I play to relax. Now I'm no computer guru, not even close, but I've been highly blessed to produce the ministry's website, all by myself. To date almost everything I've done has been 100% done by these hands and feet that the LORD has blessed me with. All moneys, well 98% of, have come from my own pockets through work that I've done outside the ministry.
Yet with all this being said and done, there are three people at this moment working on translating my book into a foreign tongue. I've been asked to come to two nations, Liberia and India, to preach and evangelize. Through one of these two men has come the formulation of this branch of the ministry, to open the door for it by having it legalized before his government. Now the fact that VCM was going to be a world reaching ministry isn't new to me, but when I've not even yet begun to break ground on that part of it here in the states!
There are hundreds of details that have yet to be taken care of here, let alone those that will come with the addition of an international branch.I spent several hours today, walking around the house talking with GOD, bearing my soul to HIM (there's no one home but me.) I talk to GOD like I would my earthly father, with respect and straight from the heart. If something has distressed me, I let HIM know it and this has me a bit stirred up. As I said though, the answers keep coming back the same, "Trust in ME." There is truly only one that I trust anymore, for I don't even trust myself, that is GOD and GOD alone. So I guess what I'm saying is, Vine of CHRIST Ministries is going international, with it's branch Vine Ministerial Network International !!!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Something to think about during CHRISTmas!
Praise the LORD!!!
I've not been blogging much in the last week because GOD has laid upon my heart a little side job. It is a little something we as Christians should think about during out CHRISTmas. If anyone has been keeping track of my activity on Facebook or several of the other sites that I frequent, its likely they'll know these subjects. Homelessness and Human Trafficking.
Recently I've started posting bookmarks to several sites and articles that have been working on or focused on the elimination of or at least the knocking down of the statistics relating to these two topics. Since the beginning of time we've had both of these around and at times had began to get them under control. In the last part of the 20th century, with the advent of the internet, investigations into both of these began to expose some startling figures and practices. As the world has become more civilized, or supposed to of, we have more and more people becoming trapped in one or both of these webs of indecency.
We as Christian are supposed to look out for and if possible supply the needs of those in need. Yet it seems that we forget this, especially during the CHRISTmas season. That time of year when we celebrate the birth of our LORD. This year I ask that while you're preparing for this festive celebration, that you think about one or both of these groups. These people are our neighbors, as pointed out in the parable of the 'Good Samaritan.' We should not look down upon them with disgust, but lift them up with love and compassion. Trying to figure out a way to improve their lives and possibly lead them to a saving relationship with JESUS. Could a few leftovers be gathered up and taken to some homeless person? Or maybe a young prostitute plying her trade on the streets? We don't know the conditions that brought these people to either of these lifestyles and shouldn't stand in judgment. What we should do is our best to bring about a change within them, not through a gospel tract or preaching to them, but through a compassionate and loving spirit.
There are so many ways we can change peoples lives, if we but take those first steps to actually do something. You've obviously a computer, or you'd not be reading this, so do a little research into these topics. Swing by the local homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Maybe even lending them a hand or supplying them with the needed provisions. Pray for them, but also pray for the LORD to open your eyes and heart to what HE wants you to do and then go and do it! Believe me, there is no greater feeling than seeing the smile on someone's face or hearing a thank you from someone that you've just blessed in some way by showing them the love CHRIST has for all of mankind!!!
GOD bless all and may you have a Merry CHRISTmas and a happy New Year. Better yet, may you bless someone else with these same blessings!!!
I've not been blogging much in the last week because GOD has laid upon my heart a little side job. It is a little something we as Christians should think about during out CHRISTmas. If anyone has been keeping track of my activity on Facebook or several of the other sites that I frequent, its likely they'll know these subjects. Homelessness and Human Trafficking.
Recently I've started posting bookmarks to several sites and articles that have been working on or focused on the elimination of or at least the knocking down of the statistics relating to these two topics. Since the beginning of time we've had both of these around and at times had began to get them under control. In the last part of the 20th century, with the advent of the internet, investigations into both of these began to expose some startling figures and practices. As the world has become more civilized, or supposed to of, we have more and more people becoming trapped in one or both of these webs of indecency.
We as Christian are supposed to look out for and if possible supply the needs of those in need. Yet it seems that we forget this, especially during the CHRISTmas season. That time of year when we celebrate the birth of our LORD. This year I ask that while you're preparing for this festive celebration, that you think about one or both of these groups. These people are our neighbors, as pointed out in the parable of the 'Good Samaritan.' We should not look down upon them with disgust, but lift them up with love and compassion. Trying to figure out a way to improve their lives and possibly lead them to a saving relationship with JESUS. Could a few leftovers be gathered up and taken to some homeless person? Or maybe a young prostitute plying her trade on the streets? We don't know the conditions that brought these people to either of these lifestyles and shouldn't stand in judgment. What we should do is our best to bring about a change within them, not through a gospel tract or preaching to them, but through a compassionate and loving spirit.
There are so many ways we can change peoples lives, if we but take those first steps to actually do something. You've obviously a computer, or you'd not be reading this, so do a little research into these topics. Swing by the local homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Maybe even lending them a hand or supplying them with the needed provisions. Pray for them, but also pray for the LORD to open your eyes and heart to what HE wants you to do and then go and do it! Believe me, there is no greater feeling than seeing the smile on someone's face or hearing a thank you from someone that you've just blessed in some way by showing them the love CHRIST has for all of mankind!!!
GOD bless all and may you have a Merry CHRISTmas and a happy New Year. Better yet, may you bless someone else with these same blessings!!!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Close to home...
Praise the LORD!!!
I just finished reading an article at Change.org on the homeless. This one hit an area close to my heart. It was on the homeless that have come from the confines of our prison systems. You see, before the LORD found me I had just been arrested and saw that I had totally messed up my life. This is when I was blessed to accept salvation, thus my life took a 360 and has never been the same. But this isn't about me, it's about those that have served their time in prison, sans the LORD, and been released into a 'new world.' For no matter the length of sentence, their world as they'd known it has changed.
These changes range from their no longer being accepted by society as one having the rights of the normal person. They've become a lower than life form of being. No longer fit to be employed. Unable to receive many of the governments social programs. Like the young lady in this story, they become homeless, outcast of society. This even if they've changed their lifestyle or not. Many may resort to any means possible to survive. This woman chose 'pan handling', but many others will turn to illegal means to survive. This too, isn't the reason for this blog.
What is the problem with a system that takes people into it and then just turns them out without caring about whether or not it had benefited the person? Our prison systems turn out possibly thousands like this each month. Many not able to support themselves by legal means, end up right back in the system that was meant to correct their problem in the first place.There are many programs in prison to improve oneself, but no guarantee that a person will take advantage of them, let alone complete them. At one time prisons were meant to adjust a person's behavior to that of the norms of society, but that is no longer the case. Now it is more of a money game, just meant to take them out of society for a while and later on run them through again. This too is not the reason for this blog!
How is it that we as a "Christian" nation can sit back and allow our fellow man to be put through such treatment? It is bad enough that we allow a system that is truly flawed to continue to operate in such manor. Greater still that we can turn our backs on our 'neighbor' when they are treated in such manor. How is it that we as Christians can continue to vote in politicians that won't address these problems straight on, no matter what the repercussions to their political futures? How is it that we can call ourselves Christians when we allow our fellow man to be treated more like an animal then a human and not speak up or reach out to them with a hand of compassion? Have we lost sight of the very principles which made this country so great? Worse yet, have we lost sight, and touch, with the GOD that we call our LORD and SAVIOR?
I just finished reading an article at Change.org on the homeless. This one hit an area close to my heart. It was on the homeless that have come from the confines of our prison systems. You see, before the LORD found me I had just been arrested and saw that I had totally messed up my life. This is when I was blessed to accept salvation, thus my life took a 360 and has never been the same. But this isn't about me, it's about those that have served their time in prison, sans the LORD, and been released into a 'new world.' For no matter the length of sentence, their world as they'd known it has changed.
These changes range from their no longer being accepted by society as one having the rights of the normal person. They've become a lower than life form of being. No longer fit to be employed. Unable to receive many of the governments social programs. Like the young lady in this story, they become homeless, outcast of society. This even if they've changed their lifestyle or not. Many may resort to any means possible to survive. This woman chose 'pan handling', but many others will turn to illegal means to survive. This too, isn't the reason for this blog.
What is the problem with a system that takes people into it and then just turns them out without caring about whether or not it had benefited the person? Our prison systems turn out possibly thousands like this each month. Many not able to support themselves by legal means, end up right back in the system that was meant to correct their problem in the first place.There are many programs in prison to improve oneself, but no guarantee that a person will take advantage of them, let alone complete them. At one time prisons were meant to adjust a person's behavior to that of the norms of society, but that is no longer the case. Now it is more of a money game, just meant to take them out of society for a while and later on run them through again. This too is not the reason for this blog!
How is it that we as a "Christian" nation can sit back and allow our fellow man to be put through such treatment? It is bad enough that we allow a system that is truly flawed to continue to operate in such manor. Greater still that we can turn our backs on our 'neighbor' when they are treated in such manor. How is it that we as Christians can continue to vote in politicians that won't address these problems straight on, no matter what the repercussions to their political futures? How is it that we can call ourselves Christians when we allow our fellow man to be treated more like an animal then a human and not speak up or reach out to them with a hand of compassion? Have we lost sight of the very principles which made this country so great? Worse yet, have we lost sight, and touch, with the GOD that we call our LORD and SAVIOR?
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