September Highlights

Looking at my calendar, this month certainly looked busy! Prepping for the Circle K trip was a little different this year. Since Caleb & Aidan are E2 interns, they are being given leadership roles to aid Nolan in running Equip well; that meant they were the ones who helped plan the menu, buy the ingredients, then actually make all the things. This was a huge help for me, Nolan, and Danielle. The first year, Danielle made all the meals for that week, last year Nolan did a lot of the work with help from Danielle and me, and this year I just showed up Thursday night to enjoy a movie night with the group.

It’s crazy how much Sam & Isaac have grown in just 2 months. And I don’t just mean grown physically because of their deep, loving relationship with the gym and obsession with protein. I think 75% of the things I’ve heard from them the last 2 months has been “protein, bulking season, cutting season, weight lifting, work out”. They have grown spiritually too and are going to continue throughout the year. Aidan & Caleb have also grown in their roles. Aidan is a natural leader and mood maker, whether he realizes it or not. Caleb is steady and a thinker; he’s balancing a bunch of different things, but I think he’s been handling everything really well. I’m really glad they’re both back for this year. I miss Donny in Mexico and Logan in Colorado, too! It’s strange how much they became a part of my life for a short time.

Danielle was in prep mode for Devin’s wedding and when she needed help having her dress tailored, my extensive network of relations was a benefit to her. My Tio Carlos’ mother is a wonderful seamstress, and since she lives in Reading and speaks primarily Spanish, I was able to get together with my cousin Susana to help interpret for us. This was the most I’d seen her in so long, it was a treat! We had the BEST tacos in Reading and were able to convince Susana and her boyfriend Preston to join us for our public Evangelism Class at CMTS. In addition to the Evangelism Class, CMTS is holding a Leadership Training Class; since I can always learn and develop my skills further, I decided to join the group.

 

September Ministry Highlights

In the fall, van rentals with Righteous Rides generally slow down. Fall and winter are the slow season before summer picks things up. Since we only have 5 vans, we don’t have a lot of traffic coming through the ministry. I don’t think that I shared about the missionary in May who picked up his van and joined us for lunch. We love having people join us for lunch during the week, and I like to extend the invitation to missionaries. It gives us an opportunity to bless him with fellowship and the pizza Aidan and I had made. Here’s some of what he said in the email he sent me that week: “Thanks so much for a wonderful van pickup the other day, and for the delicious pizza as well! I wanted to share a picture of our kids with their gift bags. A nice touch on your part—they were so excited, and we were touched by your kindness. May the Lord bless you and keep you.”

There is always so much happening at the ministry every month! If you don’t read the ministry newsletter, let me give you some highlights. Justin Darnell, Lisa Miller, & Johnny Debkowski have been working their way through the Warehouse inventorying and removing “dead stock”. In September alone, Justin went on so many donation runs that I felt like I had hardly seen him and Aidan. One week, they were able to serve another ministry who packs and ships thousands of shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. The roof of the warehouse they’d been donated had caved in, so Justin & Aidan helped them by cleaning up the debris.

Mike & Ray spent hours filling over 10 dumpsters with scrap materials. The money from the scrap has been a big help for the ministry. I love getting to see them work together. They really move fast, and I’m glad to see how well they serve with and for each other.

 

October Highlights 

The Evangelism Class is one of my favorite things we’ve done so far this year. The group was myself, Caleb, Aidan, Sandra, Wyatt, and the non-CMTS people- Alyssa, Susana, and Preston. Apparently, Preston goes out evangelising pretty often throughout the summer. He mentioned that his style of evangelism was different from what we were doing, so later in October, we tried his out.

We had 2 evening classes discussing the purpose of evangelism, the do’s and don’t’s, our goal with every conversation, etc. and watched some videos of people who do this for a living. Bryce Crawford is a personal favorite; I highly suggest you watch his videos if you want to be encouraged and inspired. Also, the book “Street Level Prayer” was one of the most practical and inspiring books I’ve read about this.

For so many years, I was terrified of “evangelism”. Growing up, it felt like the point of evangelism was to convert someone. I wish I would’ve known sooner that I shouldn’t have felt that unnecessary pressure. “Sealing the deal” by getting someone to convert is not my job, it’s God’s. And it isn’t going to happen everytime I talk to someone. My role is to follow the Spirit’s leading and pray for whomever He is pointing out to me. As long as they leave the conversation knowing that God loves them and wants to know them better, then I’ve done good. Not every conversation will turn towards a salvation talk, and that’s okay. I don’t need to feel less than someone just because I’m watering a seed instead of harvesting.

The Saturday we went out, I walked with Susana and met a satanist at the mall we were walking around. She wasn’t interested in prayer, but I had a bunch of questions about her beliefs that I wish I would’ve been able to ask. There’s always next time. At Dunkin earlier that day, I got to pray for a woman, specifically for her and her children. I was so excited to be able to be an encouragement for someone, and I hope a blessing for her too.

This year’s Cider Pressing was great, as always. The students were able to come both nights, and the Saturday when Dad made more cider just for the family, they were willing to help again. I’m not sure if they know how much of a help they really were, but I know Dad really appreciated them.

October 4th was my 3 year CMTS-iversary!! Can you believe it’s been 3 years since I’ve started serving here?? In April it will be 3 years since I moved on campus, which is crazy. I love this community so much. The people here truly love serving God and are actively seeking Him and pursuing His Kingdom. I have seen so much growth in myself in this past year alone. I am so excited to see what this next year holds!! I believe God will move in good ways, because He promised that He would. He’s always working things for His glory and my good, so that I can look more like Jesus; and that’s one example of how He moves in good ways.

Later in October, the students went on an Adventure Trip to Knoebels. I got to join this time. Caleb had never ridden a roller coaster, so his first one was the Phoenix. And, even better, since it was Knoebels’ Halloween fest thing, they had the lights off for the coasters. After getting out of the Phoenix, he thought, “I’m not riding another roller coaster, that was crazy.” So we walked over to the Twister for him to do his second coaster. Aidan, who gets motion sickness, had his head down during that whole ride. Jenny sat behind him in fear, praying he wouldn’t throw up during the ride. Sam & Isaac seemed like they had a lot of fun. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know them both. Sam is a ton of fun, and I like being around him. Isaac can be a little harder to read, but I think he’s opening up more.

 

Evangelism

Equip did their evangelism week at the end of the month, and this year, I got to join during the Outreach portions on Wednesday and Friday. Wednesday, I walked around with Justin Darnell and we tried to talk to and pray for people on the streets in Reading. We didn’t do so well in Walmart, and then while we were deciding where to go later, Justin noticed a woman standing near a crosswalk with her luggage. She wasn’t at a bus stop, so he asked if I wanted to go pray for her. I was going to say no, I didn’t think she would be interested. He ignored me and we walked over anyway. Justin asked her if we could pray for her, and she started crying. Man, the way God moves is so beautiful and I wish I wasn’t in the way sometimes. This woman was on her way to detox, and God knew she would need encouragement and love from 2 strangers she might never see again.

If I would have said, “yeah let’s go pray for her” the first time Justin asked, we would have had more time to talk with her. Towards the end of our conversation, she got a call that she had to take. I wish I would have said “yes, let’s do it” sooner. Next time, it won’t be like that.

And then Friday was even better! I mentioned the book “Street Level Prayer” earlier; in this book, the author talks about how he does ministry/evangelism. He set up a tent one day with a sign that said, “Need Prayer?” The testimonies this man had were so amazing. We decided to do something similar. Our plan was to set up a table to hand out some snack food and Bibles, but the authorities told us we weren’t allowed to without a permit. Instead, 2 groups of people took a sign each that said, “Need Prayer” and we stood at crosswalks and tried to talk to people or had people approach us. It was so great! I felt like this was so effective. It’s hard for me to walk up to someone and have a “goal” in my head of praying for them; having the sign made my intentions clear. I also wore my “Jesus Loves You” shirt, which always gets me interesting looks.

When we got to Reading that day, I got out of the van, and immediately, two men who were walking by stopped because they’d seen my shirt. They were… inebriated, so I was VERY grateful when Nolan walked over to help with the conversation. The one guy had a lot of knowledge, but seemed like he just wanted to argue for fun. I just knew that this guy was someone that only Nolan or Joel or Justin could have talked to effectively. Joel ended up spending the rest of the morning with the other man in the duo. Joel helped him by taking him to get his wallet from his sister’s house, and got to share the gospel during the drive. Joel also encouraged him to consider Restart Training Center Ministries in Lancaster, a faith-based residential recovery support program for men who struggle with addictions.

 

October Ministry Highlights

This month, a lot happened in the Warehouse, as always. We received a donation of floor heaters that I know Lisa & the volunteers are very excited about. I don’t know how they do it, but they always faithfully serve in the cold winter weather with Christ-like attitudes and smiles on their faces. We also got 4 different donations of 5+ pallets in 4 weeks. A container for Mayreau was shipped this month, and there’s another leaving for Ghana with Douglas Yeboah in November. There’s a lot happening up on the hill!

Leam is still working on getting the proper permitting for the apartments above the shop and the Training Center. The apartments are the main focus, because Sandra & Wyatt are not living on campus yet. I’m really looking forward to when they’re on campus again. It’s nice to have them around and as neighbors! If you know anything about townships or permitting, you know that we need prayer. It’s been difficult to get in contact with people, and the permits themselves have been a lot of money. They’re worth it, but we want to keep things moving on this. So please pray!!

 

Where’s God?

Everywhere! But specifically:

• He’s continued to provide finances every month. He promised to give us our daily bread, and He hasn’t failed me yet. I go up and down in trusting God for provision, especially with finances. But I know that no matter what, He is in control and is Sovereign.
• He has protected the ministry. And those of us at the ministry. I’m learning the important lesson of letting God be the One who fights for me. The song “Egypt” is one of my all time favorites, and is a great reminder that He is the “Lord of Hosts” (another great song by Shane & Shane that I’m currently obsessed with!)
• He has given me a community. I know I say this every chance I get, but I truly mean it. I love my job. I am exactly where God wants me and i couldn’t ask for more!
• He’s blessed me with a supportive family. My biological family, my spiritual family, and my chosen family. I can’t believe how blessed I am to have my family of believers in addition to my immediate family.
• He’s provided consistently for everyone at the ministry. God has provided low-cost resources through places like Hornings and Blessings of Hope, or donations of food from churches, etc. They are especially a blessing right now!
• He’s shown me grace and mercy when I truly don’t deserve it. To quote Phil Wickham, “The Savior’s in the room, and no soul beyond the boundaries of His grace. There’s resurrection powеr in His name.” What a beautiful song of hope! Too often, I have written an unsaved friend or family member off as “too far gone” or “there’s no way they’re ever going to come to Christ, they’re so totally disinterested”. How wrong I was! I’ve been listening to testimonies of people that experience God from just the smallest interactions! If I can be part of that, I want to be! Pray for those opportunities for me and for you!
• He’s proven His trustworthiness and His steadfast, enduring love over and over. This is a lesson I have to remind myself of and rely on daily. Being single has its benefits and its drawbacks. A big drawback is my fear that God isn’t going to come through for me. And I know He will, it just won’t be how I expect it or in His timing. And that’s okay. It hurts, but I am confident of this: the same God who’s never late will not fail me now. He’s the Maker of Time.

 

Prayer Requests:

1. Continued Provision! I know that God can and will provide my needs because He’s promised it, and His faithfulness is unending. That being said, He does tell us to remind Him (or ourselves really) of His character. So pray with me for God to be God.
2. Please continue to pray for me as I seek His will, follow His plan, and surrender my own. Please pray for me as I seek His Kingdom and His Righteousness. I am striving to be content where I am, not looking for something that won’t satisfy like Christ will. I have had an idea in my head of how life would look, and it certainly doesn’t look like I wanted it to. That is okay, I believe that the waiting now will be worth the outcome.
3. Pray for strength and wisdom for myself and everyone else at the ministry. Especially for the men and women in leadership. God is bigger than any challenge we’ve faced yet. He is sovereign!
4. Pray for the different projects happening around campus, for the finances to handle all these things, and for wisdom and protection. I know that God has provided and will, but that doesn’t mean I don’t still wonder how He’s gonna do it.
5. Pray for Equip. Isaac & Sam are growing a lot. I want to see them grow even more!!!
6. Pray for E2. Caleb and Aidan are back and will need your prayer for the mission trips coming up! Mayreau and Mexico will be here before we know it.
7. Pray for the different aspects of the ministry: the Righteous Rides partnership, the Warehouse, the Automotive Shops, maintenance and hospitality people, the leadership, the administration, all the things!
8. Pray that the Lord of the Harvest would send more workers into His field (see Matthew 9:38). We need help. A few of the major areas of need are the kitchen, the office (with me!), Equip, the Warehouse, the Automotive shops, and Hospitality.
9. Pray that I would find contentment and fulfillment in Christ alone, and that I would be persistent in prayer for His will, not mine.

“I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” Psalm 27:13-14

 

Thanks for reading!

Hannah Noecker