Curate: A Creative Women's Ministry

Curate: A Creative Women's Ministry Event

You are invited to join our new
Women’s Creative Ministry

Friday, July 24th at 6:00 

This ministry’s mission is to provide a
Christ-centered gathering where
women can bond with other women
while creating fun and creative pieces. 

Curate embraces a variety of mediums
and projects, all the while creating a
great environment to fellowship
and build community. 

This first event’s art supplies will be
provided. We simply ask that you bring
 a $10 donation.  Our hope is that in
the future, Curate will be city-wide, 

reaching women throughout
Birmingham while providing creative,
Gospel-driven experiences in their lives. 

3600 3rd Avenue South Birmingham AL 35222

rsvp: jamie@csmission.org

What Do We Do With 1000+ Volunteers From 16 States?

Since June 1, we have had over 1000 volunteers from as far as Wisconsin come to serve with us to improve living conditions in Birmingham. These groups work in gardens, build houses, organize the warehouse, sort food, create new ministry opportunities, work with our partners in day camps, and spend time getting to know our city and the people in it.

Each week stories come back into the office from teams working out in the communities and it is great to hear how God is working through all of these different people. Often the groups coming to serve are impacted in ways they didn't expect and make lifelong friendships, grow closer in their relationship with Christ, and learn new skills like framing a house, using a hammer properly, hanging sheetrock, or picking vegetables for the first time. Tired, laughing, and joyful faces leave us and our staff is blessed by these groups coming to serve with us. 

Here are some of the great groups who have come this summer.

2nd Presbyerian Memphis TN

El Bethel, MD 

Liberty Crossings, Birmingham, AL

Mt. Zion Baptist, KY

Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Vestavia, AL

Regions Bank, Birmingham, AL

St. Luke's Episcopal, Mountain Brook, AL

A Note From Tracy Hipps

The Lord's Prayer

Matt 6:10 Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

God is so amazing to listen to prayers offered up to Him on behalf of others. I have seen amazing things happen for those we term " the least of these".  For the last 13 years, I have had the opportunity to mobilize hundreds of churches to serve people that have great needs. I have seen the power of God move in people's hearts to extend their gifts of time, talent, and resources to help those in need. Many of you have been a part of those projects that lead to a lasting relationship for all involved. We call them Grace Makeovers and I am so excited to see the hand of God moving again and again. This month we have seen families moved to help and share with others in need through our Housing Ministry.

Wells Fargo gave us a house and now we have a family that needs a place to live while we build them a new one with one of our partners. The family has been living in the home with a tree that had fallen on it during the 2011 tornadoes. They were hopeless but kept praying that God would send help. They had a house and God has made a way for all of this to happen and now churches are stepping up to make this house a home. We sat with this family and their pastor a few weeks ago and God is using this in the life of their church.  God is still in the miracle business and we get to see and experience it firsthand when we serve the least of these.  Come join in on the fun and see lives changed through housing.

Rebuilding The Brazzille Home

Last week CSM began work on replacing one of the 2011 tornado-damaged homes. There are so many people who were displaced after the storms because their homes were deemed unlivable by the city. The homeowner, Ms. Brazzille, is an active church member and a proud mom who works hard to give her children the best she can. But the prospect of rebuilding her home was something she couldn't accomplish on her own. Ms. Brazzille had been praying for help for four years. CSM is honored to play a role in helping, the Brazzille family rebuild their home. Please join us in praying for this family and home and for the volunteers and support God will bring. 

Volunteers are a part of everything we do. If you are interested in helping to rebuild the Brazzille home, or other like it, please contact Michael Bowen at michaelb@csmission.org. 

June: A Note From Tracy Hipps

I love the summer because every year it begins with a trip to Kids Across America Kamps in Golden, Missouri. For the last 25 years, I have taken groups of kids from the city to camp and have seen hundreds come to a new faith in Christ as a result. This year was no different. The Lord drew 15 new kids into faith and we had many recommit their lives during the week. This year we took 3 charter buses and over 150 people, one of our largest groups! Fourteen organizations participated and many new children had the opportunity to experience this amazing camp. We were able to bless children and staff from Cornerstone Schools of AL, Restoration Academy, Aspire Movement, and Grace House and we appreciate your support for making this happen. The "I'm Third" award is the most prestigious award a camper can obtain. This award goes to the student who reflects the qualities and characteristics of Christ. This year, William Creagh from Restoration Academy, won the award and we are so proud. The gospel is our primary value here at CSM and the month of June continues to be fruitful.

Summer Activities and Volunteers Needed

Summertime brings groups and individual volunteers from near and far. We love having all the people at the Mission and enjoy making new friends and serving together. Youth groups are traveling from KY, TN, AL, and GA to spend time in our communities and work around CSM. And kids from VBS and summer camps enjoy spending a day at the ministry center learning about what we do and helping us accomplish great tasks! We have 7 staff members who facilitate 4 large ministries and we couldn't do all that God has brought us if it wasn't for the volunteers who answer the call. This summer we have many opportunities and volunteers of all ages and skill level are needed.

Volunteers Needed

• We have 7 community and urban gardens that have started producing fruit, need constant watering, weeding, and harvesting. We are so excited to share the harvest in the feeding ministries and summer camps. Our goal is to share 5,000 pounds of produce this season!
• Construction has started on a new house and we are renovating an existing house. Skilled and unskilled volunteers are needed to construct and then decorate these homes for families in need. 
• Are you known for your excellent organizing and sorting skills? We have an 80,000 square food warehouse that is in constant need of being organized. Everyday donated items come in and we want to be good stewards of what has been given. Come help us organize so that we can better serve ministries and churches with much needed items.
• Do you love food and feeding people? This year we have already given out 250,000 pounds of food! Extra hands are always needed to prepare pallets for ministry partners, package up bread, and help facilitate our food distribution. The food ministry operates Monday and Friday from 9am - Noon. Help is needed weekly to organize and sort the donated food that comes in weekly.
• Summer camp is in full swing in our area churches and we are helping with food items, snacks, and volunteers. 
• Come learn about aquaponics! The greenhouse is open for tours and we would love to show you how we are growing fresh produce with just water and fish!

Contact

Please contact Michael Bowen at michaelb@csmission.org for more information on how you or your group can join in with what God is doing in our city. 

Our Aquaponics Installation Is Complete!

What is aquaponics?

Aquaponics is the cultivation of fish and plants together in a constructed, recirculating ecosystem utilizing natural bacterial cycles to convert fish waste to plant nutrients. This is an environmentally friendly, natural food-growing method that harnesses the best attributes of aquaculture and hydroponics without the need to discard any water or filtrate or add chemical fertilizers. (Aquaponic Gardening Community, Nov 2010)

Why did CSM build an aquaponic system?

We have seven community gardens that grow produce in a traditional way. We love our gardens and the opportunity it gives us to use fresh produce in our food ministry. Watching children and adults discover that they like vegetables and want to try more made us want to grow more to share! One of our staff members took an interest in aquaponics and started doing the research and we realized we had the talent and materials available to create a greenhouse and build the beds. With this method, we can grow year-round, grow more plants per square inch than traditional gardening, and provide a place for others to come and learn! 

How does it work?

Illustration courtesy of The Aquaponics Source

A note from Tracy Hipps: Interruption of Life "As You Go"

Tracy visits with moms at the Mother's Day luncheon.

This last month I challenged our staff to allow God to interrupt their lives as Jesus so often interrupted the lives of those we are told about in the Gospels. He commanded us to "make disciples" and we should take this role seriously and spend quality time investing in others as God brings these people to us. This is one way we grow in our faith.

We make our plans and then we trust God to order our steps. Taking time for interruptions and being flexible with our plans is the example Christ gave us as He walked on earth. He spent time with the woman at the well, He came when the blind man called out, and He counseled Martha to spend time with Him instead of tending to her to-do list.

These interruptions are God's way of guiding our days. Here at CSM we are interrupted everyday with people from abject poverty, dealing with injustice, and with systems that create dependence. This past week we were interrupted by a young woman who wanted to find her place in God's system of care. Her pursuit brought her to my office with her pastor. We prayed and had a great conversation about "the least of these" whom we are called to serve. I was struck by her calm spirit and sweet disposition. Our staff spent time listening and caring and speaking truth into her life and she shared her deepest desire to serve as a hospice care provider. She desires to serve people in their last stage of life and help send them Home with dignity. "As you go, make disciples" and allow interruptions in your plans in order to invest in everyone that God has placed in your path.

This past month we have been blessed to serve 1500 moms in 20 nursing homes for Mother's Day. We hosted a luncheon for 110 moms to enjoy time together. We finished a house destroyed by the tornadoes four years ago and dedicated it to a Mom and her two children who are excited to be back in their home. This June we will take around 160 children and adults to Kids Across America camp where inner-city children get one of the best camp experiences around. And this summer we will see hundreds of youth descend on Birmingham in an effort to bless others and in turn we will be blessed. I pray that all the interruptions that happen this summer will be greeted as opportunities to care for those God has placed before us and will turn into blessings as we go.

Mother's Day Luncheon to Honor Moms

Last Saturday we had the privilege of honoring 110 moms from around inner city Birmingham at South Highland Presbyterian Church. The program was complete with music provided by Al and Pashion Lewis, and Yvonne Fann, and a wonderful dance routine by Deidra Kimbrough. Grace’s Kitchen provided an excellent meal, with volunteers from various churches and agencies pitching in to serve the women in attendance. Janice Vickers was the luncheon speaker and focused on the roles moms play. Mrs. Vickers described that caring moms give to not only their own children but also to those in their community and beyond. The women played Bingo and had a chance to win door prizes.

It was an uplifting, positive experience for the mothers being celebrated. Deborah Foster, this year's MC, described the event as “saturated with love. It was life giving, motivating, and inspirational.” One of the attendees, remarked, “It made my day. I had my sister with me and she enjoyed it too; we’re still talking about it! It was so nice and thoughtful to do that for mothers. From the looks of it, all the mothers were enjoying it. Everything was wonderful . . . I’m already looking forward to it next year."

Grace's Kitchen, a non-profit feeding ministry, provided a great meal.
(above right) Tracy Hipps, Executive Director, visits with the moms during lunch.

Al and Pashion Lewis singing praise to our Lord and Savior

(left) Enjoying a Mother's Day themed bingo game; (right) Deborah Foster, Master of Ceremonies

Yvonne Fann singing "Give Me My Flower"

(center) Janice Vickers, guest speaker and honored moms Alice Taplet (left) and Pashion Lewis (right) receive
a dozen roses for their service to their families, churches, and communities. 

Enjoying a moving dance by Deidra Kimbrough to "I Didn't Know My Own Strength"

30 Moms were excited to win door prizes!

Serving 1500 Moms this Mother's Day

Through partnerships with 16 churches, we were able to provide a Mother's Day program to 20 nursing homes in the inner city and serve over 1500 mothers.

Anneta Nunn said "Once again we enjoyed spending time with the mothers of Birmingham Towers.  They are serious about their bingo games, but they did allow a man to play with them this year.  My church members, Mrs. Sylvia Kelley, her son Taulton, grandchildren Artesia and Kayla, along with her great grandson K.J., were a big help.  The young people enjoyed playing with the seniors and want to return next year." CSM was also able to provide the churches with a gift bag filled with new toiletry items that were donated to CSM to give to each mother. We are so thankful for everyone who visited these special moms and honored them on Mother's Day weekend. 

Serving Each Other at the CSM Ministry Center

Care Center men work with CSM staff to distribute food. 

Here at Christian Service Mission, we have been grateful for the opportunity to provide not only food and daily living supplies to those in the Care Center ministry program, but to engage in a personal, reciprocal relationship through our ministry center with those men. Pastor AJ Johnson, with Doers of the Word Church in Woodlawn, AL, and founder of the Birmingham Care Center Ministries branch, met with Tracy Hipps a few years ago to talk about the needs of his ministry, and how he in turn could connect CSM with men who could help serve with the needs there. Since then, Christian Service Mission has been able to meet the food needs of the men through the food ministry. They also receive supplies like paper goods, hygiene supplies, and toiletry items. 

As Pastor AJ and Tracy hoped, a reciprocating relationship emerged out of the partnership. The men come to do work in the CSM warehouse (such as sweeping and restocking shelves) in exchange for meeting local church and agency volunteers that want to invest in a relationship with these men and share the Gospel. One man, Ty Cotter, came to the Birmingham branch of Care Center Ministries from the location in Dallas, TX. He was able to find leadership through this ministry and help serve at Christian Service Mission. He describes CSM as "a place where our men learned what giving back is all about and CSM has been a tremendous blessing with lifelong relationships." 

More recently, Care Center has been able to extend their serving by going out and meeting with their neighbors in the community to assess their needs. This includes both food needs, as well as getting them involved with the local church. We at CSM are excited to be able to provide food and other needs for the men at the Care Center and are so proud that they are reaching out into their community to serve others in need as well.

Beasley House Tour

Thanks to BL Harbert International, Next Step Storm, Alabama Rural Coalition for the Homeless (ARCH), and your support we were able to provide Ms. Beasley with a new home after tornadoes severely damaged her home in 2011.

We are very thankful for the contributions from: Superior Drywall, Russo Corporation, 

David Allen Co, Inc, Paradiso Painting, Tusco, Inc, Ard Contracting, Waste Management, and Remmert & Company. These great companies created a beautiful home for Tam!

Beautiful trees, a large patio, and fresh sod will provide a
great backyard for the children.

A storm shelter will keep the Beasley family and neighbors
safe if another tornado hits close to home.

Tam, Kaidynce (3months), Kentorri (2 years), and Kendall

Beasley Home Dedication

Approximately four years after her house suffered major damage as a result of the tornado, Tam Beasley was finally able to move back home. The house dedication occurred Thursday, May 7th, at her new home. 

Tracy Hipps dedicates the home and prays for the future of the Beasley family.

CSM started working on the home in November and was able to get it framed and dried-in 
over the winter. This spring we had some concerns about our ability to finish the inside of the 
house because of another project we were working on. That same week representatives from BL Harbert International walked in to the office to see if we had any projects they could assist with. 

One of BL Harbert's core values is to give back to the community where they are working and they were able to finish the inside of the house. We get to watch God bring just the right people at just the right time and it is such a blessing to us and an encouragement to the people He brings our way! 

Along with the Alabama Rural Coalition for the Homeless (ARCH), BL Harbert International,
and Next Step Storm, CSM had the privilege to turn the keys over to Ms. Beasley. 

The Beasley Home

We are so grateful for the partnership with these great organizations, and thankful to God for bringing everyone together. Ms. Beasley and her family were excited about this day and all it meant for them. 

Tam, Kaidynce (3 months), Kentorri (2 years) and Kendall

We would also like to thank: Superior Drywall, Russo Corporation, 

David Allen Co, Inc, Paradiso Painting, Tusco, Inc, Ard Contracting, Waste 

Management, and Remmert & Company for making Tam's home beautiful!