Hey there!

Andrew allowed me to take a moment to write to you and I am so so grateful because tonight, the Lord reminded me of the power that comes from the Holy Spirit. He brings JOY to the mediocrity of our lives. Amen? This past year, Renovo Ministries has gone through quite a bit of adjustment and change. It has been pretty amazing to watch how the Lord has used this year to prepare and equip us for what is to come! (more…)

We finished up our three part series on Satan’s strategies this past Sunday night. John Mangrum brought a gentle, yet incredibly prophetic message about the prostitute Babylon of John’s apocalypse. If you were there, I’d encourage you to listen to it again. If you missed it, here’s your chance.

Dear Friends,

The Lord is doing some mighty things within Renovo. I feel like I say that each month as I watch the hand of the Lord guide us and bring new people to serve along side of us. This mission of going and serving our community is not new. In fact, its something Christ called us to in His ministry. It is so encouraging to see people ignited by His work and love! The most amazing thing is that we don’t have to pretend to have it all together. In fact, God is pretty consistent with using those who are broken or perhaps considered “the least of these.” (more…)

So, its been slightly different lately. We decided to serve the homeless lunch once a month to start off the year. It has given us time to refocus and see God’s heart in this ministry, which is not only the people we serve, but from our end, the people who are serving. One of the ways we decided to do this was through seeking out different Christian ministries in Bloomington and providing ways for our volunteers to get involved with them. This month, we served the lunch at our new location downtown, participated in a Habitat for Humanity Build, helped out at Hannah House-a local crisis pregnancy center, and prayed for our university and community on a prayer walk. Here are some reflections on each of the events. We were so blessed by what the Lord did! (more…)

I once read that the best way to get to know someone is to serve together, and I’ll admit that that’s what I had in mind the afternoon that I first volunteered at Renovo. I was brand new to Bloomington, didn’t have cable or internet, and I had run out of minutes on my cell phone. Starved for human connection, I walked up to some people at church and, with heaven-sent boldness, told them that I was looking for some friends. When they mentioned that they were going to serve lunch to homeless people that afternoon, I jumped at the opportunity. Making friends AND serving God in a tangible way? Sign me up.
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“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they that mourn shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”

We studied the Beatitudes in our ECC small group not long ago and I really enjoyed our discussions as our group poured over the verses together. But today, the passage came to light.
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“Grandma, I can’t talk right now. We’ll be late for Renovo.”
“Renovo?” Grandma questioned. “What do you do at Renovo, Eric?”
Eric looked up at Grandma with a sly little grin.
“I make friends!”
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This past Sunday, I totally got blessed by God’s spirit at Renovo. It wasn’t a miraculous place, or a miraculous occasion; it happens every week in the fellowship hall of Trinity Episcopal Church. Sure, it’s a nice building, but it’s only a structure made to provide safety from the elements. The true shelter isn’t in the building; rather, it’s in the arms of God’s amazing love. We all gather in this place for food and fellowship. Sure the food is amazing, good job food preparationers, but the transcending joy comes from something much greater than spaghetti or peach cobbler. It comes from the Holy Spirit. (more…)

…Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.

As the familiar “Blessed Assurance” played in the background from someone sitting on the stoop outside of Trinity Episcopal Church, brothers and sisters in the Lord joined handsand hearts together and lifted up prayers and supplications to Jesus.  I was a little distracted by the song since the lyrics were playing over and over again in my head, but they truly seem to fit here.  God has been so faithful to us as His people…we HAVE been filled with His goodness, we HAVE been lost in His love. So, this is my [recent] story…

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Amy and I had the pleasure of presenting Renovo to a group of teenagers who will be joining us in service in a few weeks. And I would like to share a bit of the message that God spoke through us that day. (more…)