Here's To You Crosspoint!

Here is a special message from Uncle Joe to the Crosspoint Mission Team Members who wrote comments on the thank you card I received after your mission trip( I took your comments and returned them back to you.):

Travis- “You rock!”

Justin- “I really am encouraged just by being around you. You, just being yourself, challenges me.”

Leslie- “You are awesome! Thanks!”

Brianne- “Your energy is out of this world!”

Carrie- “You’re awesome! I look forward to working with you again!”

Brittany- “You taught me flexibility is always key in working with kids…if we don’t get it all done at least we had fun doing it! And we want them to copy our Godly attitudes.”

Victor- “Ur an incredible leader and inspiring!”

Paul- “Love you!”

T’Asia- “Thanks for everything- Teysha!”

Jodi- “It is amazing being able to work with you!”

Shannon- “Thank you for reminding me what it looks like to race after God’s heart and share the message to all!”

Ryan- “Wow. (You) are awesome!”

Geoffrey, Amber, Vicky, Jess, Johnny, Caleb, Josh, and others- “A special thank you to you guys just from me.”

Crosspoint- Leadership Team- “Thank you so so so much for your amazing and inspiring leadership!”

Crosspoint Mission Team Report

I have been eagerly waiting for the day after Christmas to send you an incredible report of what God did through our Winter Mission Trip last week. I have shared brief reports with a handful of you that have asked, hopefully this brief report will encourage you and your prayers pointed towards our ministries this winter season.

The week before Christmas may seem to some an inconvenient time for a mission trip, however over the past three years it has proven to be a perfect time and season. Grace Bible Church’s college ministry, Crosspoint, has been serving with us since 2005. God has used this team to not only grow our AMF Ministries Kids For Christ and Teens For Christ, but also start new ministries throughout Dallas. I realized after 2005’s Mission Team how privileged we were to host such a team. From then on I have had high expectations for each Crosspoint Team that serves with us- and I have planned accordingly. For example last year I planned to start our brand-new Teens For Christ ministry via the Crosspoint Team. Since we were successful in that endeavor we split the Crosspoint Team in half this year. One team lead our ministries at Rosemont and the other at Roseland.

Here is what happened… here is His Story:

Saturday night- KFC Leader Party at MBC (MBC KFC Ministry Team, Pueblo De Dios Ministry Team, and Crosspoint were able to enjoy food, fellowship, and a whole- lotta-fun)

Sunday- attended hosting church- Prairie Creek Baptist Church, campused Roseland and Rosemont ministering to and registering new families, Luke 14- Homeless outreach and dinner through Cornerstone Baptist Church in South Dallas.

Monday- work projects at PCBC, Team Meetings, TFC and KFC at both sites- we had a full house at both sites- I directed the Roseland Team while Dan Chambers directed the ministries at Rosemont. We (Jess and I) came back from the Blue Route with over 50 kids!

Tuesday- work projects at PCBC, Team Meetings, TFC and KFC at both sites- assisted by the MBC and PDD Ministry Teams

Wednesday- Homemakers For Christ Bible Study (soul food for lunch), set up Roseland’s KFC in gym, purchased gifts for the teens and kids, and TFC and KFC at both sites- Roseland’s team was assisted by 53 leaders and families from Axcent Networks and 34 teens from All Nations Fellowship.

Thursday- the Crosspoint Mission Team returned home

If you are one interested in actual numbers here they are (we based the total number of kids and teens on Wednesday by the amount of gifts we purchased and gave away- and at Rosemont they had just enough- and at Roseland we had one extra! PTL!!!):

Wednesday Night at Roseland and Rosemont combined we had 190 kids, 73 teens, 109 Servant Leaders= 372 total people

If you were to count the servant leaders that served on Tuesday with MBC and PDD (Pastor Norm Taylor came with 2 of his children) you would need to add at least 26 more to the equation= 401!

The strength/sustainability of our impact and what keeps us all coming back to help during our Winter Mission Trip is dependant on the fact that we minister to all of these kids and teens through out the year. God used us last week to reach new families, teens, and kids…FOR CHRIST!

Thank you for praying for us last week and encouraging us along the way.
Please pray for the following requests:

Traveling mercies for Lindsey, Jacey, and I as we leave for the NW to spend 10 eventful days with our great family and friends.

Crosspoint Team Members as they deal with what God used them to accomplish and how He Divinely worked through them.

Blessings on Grace Bible Church, Prairie Creek Baptist Church, Mesquite Bible Church, All Nations Fellowship, Pueblo De Dios, Axcent Networks, Rosemont Apts –Meadow Lane, and Roseland Homes.

Our next KFC and TFC will be January 15 for Roseland and 17 for Rosemont.

Please pray for all the above and more for our family and ministries!

Happy- Holy- Days and New Year!

Uncle Joe, Mama Lindsey, and Baby Jacey!

Krispy Kreme and Little Debbie

"Happy 75th Birthday Bob!"

Bob Mixon was diagnosed with a brain tumor and given a few months to live. Shortly after hearing this, Bob was at a tune up shop getting his Cadillac serviced. To make a long story short, my Dad was also there for the same reason. My Dad led Bob Mixon to Christ right there in the tune shop nearly thirteen years ago. He and his wife Patt started attending MBC and were a big part of our lives- serving as our “Texan grandparents.” Bob taught me how to carve, my Dad how to play golf, and my youngest brother Kevin how to sing Willie Nelson (at the age of 2) and play the harmonica. When my parents moved back to the NW via AMF they had to leave several people and things behind. Bob was one of those people. By the time my parents moved I was out on my “own” going to Bible College and in ministry, Lindsey and I got married, and we were busy-as most of you have known.

On the fourth of July three summers ago, Bob called me up- totally out of the blue. He had found my phone number on our recent newsletter. We talked for the first time in several years. His health had took a turn for the worse and he was practically bed-ridden and very lonely. He asked me to come visit him asap. I immediately called my Dad and rejoiced with him that Bob had made it a point to call and to also invite me over. My Dad told me that Bob, in all the years that he had known him never let him inside his house.

When I got back from our summer mission trips I called him and came over to his house. The door was already unlocked and so I let myself in. To be considerate of his situation all I need to say is that the inside of his house looked like many of the houses we gutted in New Orleans- post-Katrina. All the theologically training, knowledge, and experience I had acquired was forced to take on an entirely different form. You do not know how you are going to react until you are faced with this kind of situation. I sat down in the one other chair that was available and talked/listened with Bob Mixon. I could not believe I was sitting here with him and that God had brought us back together again. I was (supernaturally) able to look past everything around us and focus on encouraging him.

Since that first visit much has happened. Patt, his wife, donated a van and two trailer loads of winter clothes, shoes, cooking and craft supplies, and purses to our Homemaker For Christ Seniors- many had never even been opened or used before. The Adult Protection Services have come and “gutted” their house of all the clutter/trash- revealing another easy chair and couch in the living room. Bob also told me today that he wants to donate his old Cadillac to our ministries and pay to have it fixed (has not left the driveway for at least a decade). Even though he is unable to move around in the house very well we keep talking about getting him in a wheel chair and driving him down to the golf course. He likes that.

However, what matters in all of this is what happened to me today. About 3 weeks ago Patt fell and injured herself. Bob called me and let me know what happened. When I called him today I found out that she is still rehabing from her injury and has not come home. He told me that the APS have been bringing him some food but that he was hungry and wanted me to bring him something. I was half way home from the gym this morning and on my way to run several errands in preparation for KFC and TFC tonight. I told him I would try to come later in the week.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, take your inheritance, the Kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink… (Matthew 25:34-35)”

I turned around and headed to Bob’s house. Needless to say I surprised him when I knocked on his door! I came in and sat in “my chair” and talked/listened with him. I could not help but notice all of the empty Krispy Kreme Donut, Little Debbie, and snack boxes stacked around him. I had to ask him if this was the only thing he had been eating and he, matter of factly, replied, “Yes.” He was living and enjoying the bachelor life! He was not hungry for fast food or take out all he wanted was some more Honey Nut Oats (off brand of Cheerios) and milk. I made my way to his kitchen and found a pile of empty ½ gallon milk jugs and cereal bowls!

Bob and I started talking about getting older and with me turning 27 (Nov. 25) how most of my friends are calling me old. I asked Bob when his birthday was. He told me, “I am going to turn 75 on Dec. 11.” I told him the last time I checked- today was Dec. 11th. “Happy 75th Birthday Bob Mixon!” He could not believe today was already his birthday- let alone December.

He sent me to pick up some groceries for him (Krispy Kreme, 5 ½ gallon jugs of milk) so while I was shopping I picked him up some bananas (easy for him to eat) and some birthday cupcakes (I had to ask for a candle and matches).

When I got back to his house I gave him what he asked for and then I surprised him with his 75th Birthday cupcake and candle. You should have seen the look on his face when I asked him to blow it out! I stayed long enough for him to eat all the frosting and cupcake and to catch up on an episode of Leave It To Beaver.

Please keep Bob and Patt Mixon in your prayers. They need to be continually encouraged during this time of year. Please remember the passage I quoted earlier. I allowed it to o directly me this morning and I ended up putting on a 75th Birthday party for a man who my own Dad lead to Christ nearly thirteen years ago.

Uncle Joe

AMF ENCOURAGER

“Tonight is a great night…”

“Why?!”

“…We get to praise the Lord!”- Matthew Livious (Apt. 2003- Age 7- Green Route)
I heard this from several of our kids last night while serving at our Rosemont Kids For Christ. It may have only been a few of my kids actually saying it on the way to our KFC Clubhouse but their words must have echoed in my mind. We are successfully reaching our community at Rosemont with the Gospel. Our kids and teens are finally catching on to what we are about! Jesus Christ!

This has been a very successful week for our AMF ministries. It all started Tuesday night when we re-started our Teens For Christ ministry at Roseland. We had been waiting for a leader to step up and “spear head” this ministry. Matthew Moffett from Pueblo De Dios took on the challenge. He started with a handful of guys and by the time it was over the room was full (I peeked through a window on the way taking our kids home!). I love what we get to do. It is not easy (That same Tuesday night we were moved from the “foyer” area to the gymnasium!- crazy logistics with kids from 4yrs old to 12), but it sure is good.

Wednesday morning we were able to march through Romans 7 and part of 8 in our Homemakers for Christ Bible Study. We have some of the most interesting discussions during Bible Study.

Wednesday afternoon I shared our KFC Ministries with Axcent Networks. They financially sponsored all 300 new KFC and TFC shirts (Leaders, teens, and kids) and our new hoodies! PTL!!! They will be coming the last night of our Crosspoint Mission Trip Dec. 19 to help us pass out gifts after KFC and TFC at Roseland and Rosemont. They are also planning on giving through their company to provide great gifts for our teens and kids.

Wednesday evening Lindsey, Jacey, and I led our TFC at All Nations Fellowship. We had a great time of games and Bible Lesson. Our ministry there has grown from 24 teens 4 weeks ago to 43! God is doing a great work there.

There have been plenty of reasons for us to praise the Lord during there past months. One of the most important things that has happened is the opportunity for us to rent an apartment unit inside the Rosemont community. Axcent Networks is also raising funds to cover the rent for an entire year! The same day I found out a proposal I had put in to Dallas Housing Authority had been denied, I received a phone call from Axcent Networks letting me know that they wanted to champion this dream!

This has always been a dream of mine every since we re-started KFC Feb. 5, 2005. Through this apartment (We might call it our Life House.) we will house the men who will serve as our “Pointmen” for our ministries we currently lead (TFC and KFC at Roseland and Rosemont) and those we will be able to start (TFC and KFC at Eban Park, afterschool KFC for the Boys and Girls Club in E. Dallas, TFC at the West Dallas YMCA, and several others). We will also be able to serve the Rosemont community through adult Bible Studies (we currently serve the kids, teens, and senior adults but do not have a weekly ministry for parents/adults), leadership skills training, discipleship, and an Urban House Church!

Time Line- We are planning on meeting with all the guys that have expressed a committed interest in serving through the apt. next Friday. Once the funds are raised we will plan on moving in mid-January. Please keep these plans in your prayers. Pray that God would continue to be in the CENTER of all of our plans!

Romans 8:28- “For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
(Next week’s Homemakers For Christ Bible Study will be on Romans 8:18-39)

What is God’s purpose?... To Love Him and to share His love, to serve him and to serve others, to know Him and make Him known…