The Harbor Family dot Calm!

YAY - our website as just gone LIVE - thanks to our dear friends, Emily and Andrew Smith. Check it out at www.theharborfamily.com.

Over the next few weeks, there will probably be a few changes, so check it often! AND, you can donate online too - safe and secure - and you will be receipted for your gifts at the end of the year! So, WHO WILL BE THE FIRST TO MAKE AN ONLINE DONATION? Ha!

We are working with the online link to give - so if it looks a bit confusing, check back tomorrow or the next, and I think you'll see improvements.

Friday (November 30) we will host our first Family Movie: Disney/Pixar's UP. We'll provide popcorn, and get a chance to build bridges. This morning we handed out 1100 tickets that will go home to 1100 families (from two of our local elementary schools). We have room for about 150 - so we are excited to show off our THEATRE - in the process of being retooled into a worship center (and movie place!)

God has been so close to us. Bible Study at The Harbor is picking up pace as we all together learn of God's great love for us. We are studying the Gospel of John - which is a very fun look at Jesus' life.

December is FAMILY ART month - as we focus on bringing families together to do things like "Ceramics"; "Card making" and "Ginger Bread Homes". Fun!

And you ought to drop by and see our under construction CLAY room - wow. And did I tell you about the new paint job in the men's bathroom? Very cool. Probably pictures will suffice regarding that.

Keep praying - as we lean into the upcoming chance to worship together, our hearts beat extra fast with the anticipation and excitement!

Administration is Important - and People are too!

Help.

I met with one of my basketball guys the other day, and realized he really needs more attention. As a young man in his 20’s, in a dangerous, mixed up world – he needs help with education, decision making, job skills and, well, life! He’s started asking some great questions – personal things that I believe will lead to awesome conversations about what God could do in his life.

I want to spend more time with him – other than just Thursday nights. But I can’t. Instead, I’m keeping accurate records, paying bills, balancing the checkbook, keeping meticulous records of all donations and organizing the calendar. And I am excruciatingly slow at this. And I’m not good. I’m pitiful. And I need help.

I’m thanking God over and over or all the secretaries that have served along side me over the years. Doris, MeaDora, Elsa, Marilyn, Sherry, Nettie, Kimba, Becky, Alison, Sue, Linda and Christa – you all rock, and made me way better than I am. And the amazing “bean counters” – you know, the finance people: Mark, Walter, Art, Rick, Steve, Bill, Don and Clarence – how you’ve remained sane all these years, I’ll never know! My respect for you was always high, but it has grown exponentially (math word!) over these last few months.

So pray that God will bring someone along that can help with our finances and general administration. O, how effective we could be, if we were a bit more organized. And O, what a blessing it would be, if I could spend more time with “people” and less with the books. Somewhere out there, is someone who loves to do that, and who is good at it. Pray with me that that person shows up!

And pray for my basketball buddy and his questions about work, decision making, life and God. Thanks.

God Speaks, People Give, Others are Served

The Portage Team was here a few weeks ago - and Tim, the Electrician came along. We knew that someday, we'd like to transform the chem lab into the Clay Room, complete with Kiln, pottery wheel, etc. Only all we had was the "etc." which in this case meant "basically nothing". Still, while Tim was here, we wired the Chem Lab with 220 - knowing that if we ever got a kiln, it would require a 220 volt outlet.

A week after Portage left, a lady from the East Michigan conference (who just happens to be my Mother in Law) called and said "We bought you a kiln at a garage sale - can we deliver it tomorrow?"

So, that Friday morning, we got up and started cleaning out the Chemistry Lab - making room for the Kiln!

When Mom and Dad Dodds showed up, they not only had a kiln, but lot's of greenware and molds for ceramics. Now, we had not planned on ceramics - but now, we have some neat ideas for Gramma's and Grandkids coming together this fall to make Christmas presents for the "Mom's". It's cool how God directs this ministry!

Now, we still had the problem of the chemicals. When the school closed, they left behind 9 boxes of chemicals in the Chemistry lab. Things like Mercury and HCL and names that are too long to write here. And no one wanted them. I had made more phone calls than you can count - and I was perplexed. But Dave Powless, our pastor at Warren Road Light and Life church, heard about our plight. The very next week, we were able to deliver the chemicals to a Christian school in the Canton area - who really wanted and needed them! We felt FREE!

But still - we have no clay, no motorized potters wheel - we are still a long way from being "legit" when it comes to being a place where people would want to come and create.

That next weekend - we are in Spring Arbor and Mary bumps into our Artist friend Aaron. She tells about the kiln and he says - "I have a wheel for you". So, we met him at his house, and he loaded a motorized potters wheel into our truck, along with about 60 pounds of clay! He also donated a chalice he had made (which we will use for communion!)

Before we left Spring Arbor, my brother Billy and his son Aaron, presented us with a drum set.

So now, we can start doing some "band" stuff - to teach worship music and Jesus to some of my Basketball Guys!

There is no income at The Harbor - aside from people like you who hear God speak, and then respond. Thanks! God is being lifted High at the Harbor - as people are served through your gifts!

Singing and Painting

So, a great beginning! Here is our watercolor painting class. An awesome instructor, and a very sharp group of kids. Very fun! Everyone loved the snack time, and obeyed during the "study" time.

And here is our music class doing "breathing" exercises!

The hardest part of this ministry, because it takes alot of energy, is wondering if it will "turn into" anything. So, for the time being, we are content to live by this mantra: We do not do these things to get people converted, but because we are converted. Still, we pray for conversions!

Grand Opening Prayers

Well, TUESDAY it begins!

Pray: We’ve cleaned and scrubbed and painted and fixed and fixed and fixed. We’ve prayed and we’ve planned and we’ve invited. Tuesday, we officially OPEN our Cultural Arts wing. We have 10 students who are registered, and we have two classes on Tuesday, Two on Wednesday and One on Thursday. We have incredible instructors and people to help tutor. We’ve built solid relationships with the administrators of the school district and with the elementary school next door. We are ready.
But – without God’s presence and power, we will just be singing and painting and taking pictures and scrapbooking and playing kickball – and that’s all it will be. We want God to create discussions with parents and let the love of Christ flow through us and encourage and bring hope to kids and families. Pray with us to that end.

And…
On Wednesday night, we begin our Bible study. Pray for those who have been invited, and the “re-invites” we will deliver tomorrow (Tuesday). Pray for me as I prepare. And pray for God’s presence to touch and heal and bring hope.

And…
Thursday, we begin our official “Harbor Hoops”. We’ve had some nice beginnings with the Basketball boys, but this week we become “official” – so pray that relationships will be built. We will work with the same 13 boys for 8 weeks straight – and hope that this will help us go deep, expressing love and hope to these guys. I’m not alone in this – Bob Goldston is my fellow leader and mentor as we teach these boys about basketball – and about life – and about God. Pray for us.

PRAISE: Again, I am overwhelmed with those who have given some amazing help around here. Portage Free Methodist have sent two teams – the most recent group did some super incredible work on some pretty complex stuff – super helpful! And Westland Free Methodist sent two groups who knocked out some amazing work – painting and scraping and on and on! And then, several smaller teams have come around to begin long range work that will help us with design and ministry.

And God continues to send us money, just in time! About the time I look at the bank book and see the numbers dwindling, a check shows up in the mail! Praise God for generous people!

Thanks again!

Pastor Mark, Mary and McKenna Cryderman
The Harbor

The 'A' Team

Go ahead, hum the theme song from "The A Team" while I reminisce.
Portage Free Methodist sent some stellar workers last weekend. People I didn't need to train. People that knew what to do. These amazing folks just worked and worked and worked - moving from one project to another! They fixed some things that had me stumped for months.
But better than that - they, as they are so good at doing, loved us. They just talked and laughed and loved - that's what they do best.
God gives good gifts, that's for sure. And the 'A' Team from Portage are super good gifts!

HELP...ers!

So, this big, beautiful building is awesome, huge, and carries a laundry list a mile long on projects - both big and small.

We hosted the Portage FM Teens a few weeks back - who did just an amazing job. The week we enjoyed with that group kept us "flying high" for days and days! What joy - to be connected to such amazing kids and adults! What a privilege it is to work side by side with such quality people!

But, you know, after they left - the building sure felt quiet. And lonely.

Then, Westland and their teens - 31 of them! showed up to work one Thursday night, and then another 14 showed up from WFM on Saturday. And boy, did those kids and adults work! They worked and worked and worked - and like their PFM brothers and sisters, had such an amazing spirit of joy!

So, after WFM left, again, we were flying high! So much accomplished in such a little amount of time. So much joy and so much of God's spirit all around. Wow.

And the building is looking gooooood! The third week of September is just around the corner - that's the week when all the students will show up for their first week of creating at The Harbor. I can't wait!

Before each work team leaves, we have them sign the door. That is, on the back of the mechanical room door, I've printed a verse - from Philippians - which says "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel..." I explain that all the names on the door are partners in sharing the gospel. Whenever I see those names - some of those names are your names - I am deeply moved and thankful.

Thanks Helpers!