July 2023 Newsletter
A BUSH OF HOPE

Israel had been ensnared in oppressive Egyptian captivity for four hundred years.
There was no hope. What had started as a desperate migration for the Israelites to Egypt centuries earlier for food and land to farm had become a horrific systemic slavery. 

Human hope always starts with God’s holiness. Exodus 3:1-2 records God’s direct interruption of Moses’ life. When Moses and his flock of sheep “chanced” upon a burning bush in the Wilderness of Horeb, his life changed forever. God challenged Moses to embrace a new way of hope. His conversation with God not only turned his world upside down but introduced him to God’s holiness. The burning bush would be the birthplace of hope for Moses and the deliverance of the Israelites out of slavery. 

We all need hope. When the Nazis enslaved the Jews during World War, they went to great lengths to extinguish any hope of hope. Edith Eger, a survivor of the Nazi camps wrote, “Hope tells us that life is full of darkness and suffering—and yet if we survive today, tomorrow we will be free.” Hope brings freedom. At the core of Jesus’ redemptive mission was God’s salvation for humankind- an eternal hope that the scourge of sin would be shattered forever, and freedom would reign. Deliverance from this yoke of bondage and slavery would be available to all who believed in Jesus Christ. God gave Moses that same hope. God would be Israel’s deliverer from captivity to freedom.

There is no hope under an overpass! For this reason, Christ’s Body Ministries has labored to bring hope to the homeless. Embedded in our daily “helps” to the homeless has been the timeless message of the Gospel. For most of them, their lives have been shattered by addiction, mental health challenges, broken families, and bodies. Their only hope is in Christ. 

I would deeply appreciate your ongoing prayer, volunteerism, and financial support this summer. Help Christ’s Body be a ‘bush of hope” to the homeless. 

Blessings to you!

Pastor Jim

If you have any questions, prayer requests or other issues, call us at 303-860-1272 or email us at info@christsbody.org.
HOPE DURING OUTREACH
Mobile street outreach at CBM is a key element in bringing hope to circumstances or situations that seem hopeless in the marginalized community. Hope comes in so many forms. Our homeless friends see and feel this in the fellowship and consistency of our outreaches. There is hope in the resources that are provided be it a meal, clothing, or a shower, but most of all the hope of a savior in the name of Christ Jesus. Our hope is in the Gospel, not only being proclaimed, but the hope that it would take root in those we serve and that transformation would be evident. 

About a month ago on a street outreach a homeless friend of ours came up to us with Bible in hand (one that was supplied by a CBM outreach) and asked if we could help him with a Bible passage in James that he was having a hard time understanding. WOW! The hope of the gospel is tangible by the work being done by our volunteers and staff, and moments such as these are so big in the kingdom work being done through CBM. It could not be done without the prayer and support of all those who contribute to Christ’s Body Ministries.

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
GOD BRINGS VOLUNTEERS
For quite some time, our staff had been praying and reaching out to local churches to find someone who spoke fluent spanish to volunteer with us. We needed help talking with many of our spanish speaking guests during outreaches. Then one day Ernest and Maria, our Spanish speaking duo, reached out to us. So we asked them “What church are you from? We’re so glad that you heard that we need help!” Quickly we learned that they had not heard of us through any church, rather, true to form, God led them to us.

Meet Ernest and Maria Denys. Getting to know them has been a joy! Here is a little snippet from the desk of Ernest and Maria to get you started…

“We've been married 37 years, and met at the SLAC National Accelerator Center in Menlo Park, California from where we retired. Before moving to Colorado we lived in Northern California, SF Bay Area, where we raised our three sons; Matthew (36), Andrew (34) and Nathanael (30). 

With God’s enablement and the Holy Spirit's empowerment we served and ministered at Fellowship Bible Church in Belmont, CA for 27 years. Our ministry involvement included; Elder, Deacon, Sunday school teacher, Deaconess, High School youth leaders, seasonal missionaries and various children's ministries. It's a wonder to consider how God has and continues to use us for His glory. 

We recently started attending Belmar Church in Lakewood Colorado. We are thankful that God has led us to Christ Body Ministries. It is a joy to serve those who are in need, alongside brothers and sisters in Christ. As with those who we serve with, we see ourselves as missionaries working in the local field the Lord has placed us in.

God has grown our faith in Him as He brought us through trials. He is amazing in pouring out His grace in our weakness and has blessed us in many ways. We trust and depend on Him for everything in our lives. Our prayer is to be used of God to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ until He returns.” 

Ernest and Maria, we're thankful that God led you to serve with us.
We are thankful for you, and each one of our volunteers, who all bring HOPE to our homeless friends.
CLOTHING DONATIONS PILED HIGH!

THANK YOU! We had our first Backyard BBQ Clothing Drive this past weekend and it was a success! Thank you for stopping by with your donations, support and fellowship!

Clothes are an essential resource and tool in the services we supply and are always in high demand.
Stop By during Regular Donation Hours:
Monday - Friday from 8 AM - 2 PM
Or contact us to set up a different time