Celebration

A good friend of mine that lives in Florida had just been diagnosed with a rare cancer disease that has no cure with limited life expectancy. This overwhelmed him and his family. I decided to set up a zoom conference with his friends throughout the country to encourage and pray over him. He sent an email the next morning thanking us for a wonderful evening. Stated “it was the first night he had slept peacefully in a long time. I felt your prayers throughout the night”  Gary

UCM & Ben -
Four days before school even started a few of us went to middle of campus and setup a game of Spikeball. Just to see what would happen. We stood alone in the middle of a big field, played Spikeball and yelled at people who walked by (in our friendliest voices). We talked with several new students that day, but one guy named Ben spent the rest of the night with us, hanging out and having dinner.

A few days later we setup a table on a busy sidewalk. Ben showed up again and spent 30 minutes talking with us. At one point, another student was asking a UCM student leader about our group. Ben overheard the UCM student saying, "Our unique thing is we're really about living out our faith and serving God." Ben turned to me and said, "You know, it's strange. I've never thought about this until right now. Before I was born my cousin told my mother that her children would serve God."

"Wow, what do you think about that?" I asked Ben.

"I never thought it was real, but I just heard her say that about serving God. It makes me think maybe there's something to it," Ben replied.

I told Ben that God has big things in store for him this year. The student leader told Ben that God has prophesied about this moment in his life. Ben said, "Yeah, maybe!" We think God has led us to a potential person of peace.

UCM & Sai -
We actually met Sai last semester at an international student welcome dinner. Because of Covid, we weren't able to spend much time with him in the spring or summer. We've only seen him twice so far this semester, but he can't stop talking about God working in his life!

Sai came to our Launch meeting at our house last week and kept talking about God answering prayers. He's been talking to his mother, who's back in India, about things going on in his life and things he hoped to see. He said that over the summer God answered almost all of his prayer.

Then just yesterday I was giving Sai a ride in my car. He talked about how UCM is his family. He said, "I have lots of classes and work Tuesday and Thursday. But Monday, Wednesday and Friday I belong to UCM. Whatever you are doing, I will do it, too!"

We talked about how interesting it is that we didn't even know him several months ago and now we're good friends. Sai said, "It's only God. Why do I know you? It has to be God. How did I meet you and become friends? Can only be God."

We're excited to know Sai, too. And we know God has big plans for his life.

UCM & Ryanna -
A few days ago a couple of student leaders were in a downtown coffee shop. They were talking about UCM, how great the community is, and how God has been working. After several minutes a stranger came up and said, "I've been eavesdropping on your conversation. I'm new around here and I need community. It sounds like you've got a great community. Can I be part of it?"

Our student leaders said, "Of course!" and talked with Ryanna for several minutes. Later that night, Ryanna showed up to UCM's first small group meeting of the semester and loved it.

Every year, Bust the Bus touches six to eight teachers at the community schools we share with, which in turn blesses 100s of students. Every item shared represents Clear Creeks generosity and it is recognized in our community as a gift from God through this church family.

• Crystal Birch at Hixson Middle School had a teacher friend with her when we delivered her supplies.  At Hixson Middle School, the teachers excitedly met Phil at the door knowing that these much needed supplies were being delivered.  This gave Crystal the opportunity to share these blessings given by her church and she was able to talk about her church family.
• This year certain items Katie Gaither at Loftis Middle called “coveted” items such as wipes, hand cleaner, disinfectant, paper towels. She was very thankful for these blessings.
• Tracie Crews at McConnell Elementary was given supplies and the other teachers always look forward to the supplies she shares with them. This opens the door for her to talk to them about Clear Creek.
• Julie Neill is teaching at Daisy Elementary. Her administrators were overwhelmed with the amount of supplies given. This is her first year at this school and gives her the opportunity to talk about her church.
  
  

Every year there are students needing a binder, pencils, markers, etc. Every year copy paper is a much needed supply.  We had all these items to bless these teachers and students with through Bust the Bus and your generosity. With each item given to a student or teacher, doors are open to talk about Jesus and share the opportunity to have a live changing relationship with Him.

There have been some positives that have come out of this overall negative situation we are all currently in the middle of. The girls and I have been walking in our neighborhood on a more regular basis in the mornings and evenings. We have met and talked to many of our neighbors spread farther throughout the neighborhood. We now call each other by name, have more in depth conversations and are discovering common ground.

One of these neighbors we learned had cancer but is now finished with her treatment. Her daughter lives in Alaska, just like my brother's family. Another neighbor had caught some petty theft on her home camera and made us aware of it. The man next door, his mom had a stroke and we have been praying for her. A husband and wife up the street we learned has a church background but hasn't gone to church or been plugged in anywhere in years. We discovered with them that we have a mutual friend who has also invited her to Clear Creek.

The Lord is working in each of these situations, and through the BlessEveryHome website we learned about during the Awaken time (just before this pandemic), we are building much deeper relationships with our neighbors! - Shelly Hendrix

The second Sunday the church had worship services inside again, one family had several visitors join.  Of that group, a mom with her young son shared they had moved here in May and was interested in connecting with people.  She was invited to the PreK Water Day the very next morning, and they came!  Not only did her little boy get to have tons of fun playing, she was able to meet other parents and begin making connections.
  
New young families have stayed plugged in despite some not being able to attend church since last December with their new arrivals.  They have connected through Zooms, phone calls, and occasional meetups outdoors.   What a blessing to maintain friendship and connection with others in the same life stage! 
  
5th Grade Day in July lended the opportunity for two generations of our church to connect.  The 5th graders made signs saying, "We love you!" and "We miss you!".  Then, they went to make driveway visits (socially distance) to a few widows and special "grandparent" couples of our church family.  The visits were short, but the joy was long lasting!
  
At the end of one PreK Storytime Zoom, one little boy shared with his dad before the time ended, "Do you know what she said? God loves me!"  
  
A two shoot water slide for the win!  August is hot and we wanted to have some water fun before school started.  Roughly 20 families came one evening to pray for their schools and enjoy the water slide two by two. It was a great night to reconnect with friends and build community again.

Our small group has visited some of our elderly members over the past month or so as they may be even more susceptible to loneliness or feeling forgotten. We spent time talking with them, listening to them and sharing scripture with one another and praying over them.  This time has been an encouragement to these people as well as to our house church.  It reminds us that we are all one family in Christ and that each person is unique and has something to offer no matter their age or situation.  I attached a few pictures of when we visited Boodie and Mrs. Tirey.  In addition to these, we were able to visit Waymon and Evelyn Vickery, Katy Van Eaton, Christine Marlowe, and Bob and Mary McGrath. - Bobby Ray

The church office got a call from a concerned person living in another county. Her parents had friends, an elderly couple that lived in downtown Chattanooga, who were not able to get food for themselves. Because of our church families' generosity, our benevolence team was able to deliver them groceries to get them through the end of the month. The person who called to let us know of this family's need didn't want to be known and gave all the glory to God! 

A group also used a church gift card to replenish a school’s food bank in the school where she teaches. With the tornado and COVID it was almost depleted. This will be a tremendous blessing to families that rely on the school for meals. 

One group was able to use a church gift card to bless two families. In one family, the wife had a heart attack and has not been allowed to go back to work, and her husband lost his job during this time of COVID-19. They are struggling to make ends meet and the group bought groceries that should last them for a couple of weeks.  The second family,  a husband, wife, and two children, were living out of their car. They have found temporary housing with a relative. The group was able to bless them with a case of diapers and wipes for each of the children.  

One small group gave a church gift card to The Bethlehem Center where one of their group members works. They serve around 150 kids in need a day by providing meals.