Backyard Mission Newsletter…do the Word.

Mission Statement:

1.  Get people warm and dry by providing free home repairs, using volunteer labor and buying materials with donated money.  Demonstrating the love of Christ!

2.  Give Christians the opportunity to put their faith into action by loving and serving their neighbors.

3.  Help other churches start a Backyard Mission program in their community.
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ARE YOU COLD NATURED OR WARM NATURED?

I am not “winter-hearty”.  I hate to be cold, makes me mad.  People who know me say that if it drops below 70 degrees, I start building a fire.  There is some truth in that.  The only thing I like about the weather turning cold is that I get to have a fire in my fireplace.  There is no place I would rather be on a cold night than snuggled up close to a crackling fire.  It brings me joy.  

In the back of my mind though, there is always the thought that these cold nights are not a time of joy to some.   Cold weather brings misery to someone with no heater or hot water.  I spoke with an elderly couple today who has not had heat for 3 or 4 years.  They have been using their stove and wrapping in blankets.  I told them we could help and the husband just kept saying, “God bless you, God bless you.”  Jesus and you make that possible!

This time of year Backyard Mission turns its attention to fulfilling heater and water heater requests.  Thank you for giving so we can say “yes” to these families.  Blessed to be a blessing.  God’s will for God’s people.
2007 BYM BUDGET - $125,000
REC. to DATE - $119,797 
December 2007

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Families Served - 567

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A few “thank you”s to make:
Willis Moving & Storage for moving a Backyard Mission family in a desperate situation for free.
Michael Strong at LocalLINUX for maintaining our web-site at no charge.
Overhead Door for installing a new garage door free.

** A big thanks to Alamo Remodeling for providing a dump truck for us!! **
   
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Contact Laurie if you would like to join one of these teams:
	First Home Visit Team – these volunteers do the initial home visit and complete smaller repair jobs as needed.
	Church Relations Team – these volunteers contact local churches and drop off information about BYM.
(These groups work on their own time schedule.)

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  Consider a gift to Backyard Mission in honor or memory of someone.  +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Board Members:
Jim Taylor		Mary Kay McCauley
Sheri Haynes		Laren Craig
Glenn West		Lindy Fruge’

LAURIE FOSTER,  DIRECTOR / FOUNDER       
4701 - 82nd St		               (806) 794-4015
Lubbock, TX  79424	  
Lfoster@backyardmission.org  / www.backyardmission.org

MERRY CHRISTMAS – OUR SAVIOR IS BORN

Grants received 2007
Betenbough Foundation, LAF – unrestricted funds, Chester & Ada Ruth Green, Fern Cone, Roy & Lela Furr, C.R. & Virginia Hutcheson, Hassel Endowment, Horizon Fund, and Gladys Leftwich.  South Plains Foundation, Home Instead Senior Care Foundation, East Texas Communities Foundation, Monty Miller Living Legacy