May 2007
OFMS Report – Seeking Support
Hello, everyone.
As always, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has participated in O.F.M.S. Great work has been accomplished because of your effort and good heart.
We are continuing to see a tremendous need and opportunity to do Kingdom work in lower Plaquemines parish. Mater of fact, we have just now begun to scratch the surface. However, we have come to the point in which we must ask for financial support. Until now, we have not had to ask for financial support. But because we are not expecting any additional support from I.D.E.S., after this month, and because we are not receiving sufficient monthly support to sustain operations, it has become necessary to ask for your help. Therefore, the purpose of this e-mail is to bring you up to date concerning our progress and current need.
Current Situation
In short, with several groups coming over the next few weeks we should be completing several of our renovations, some of which we have been working on for almost a year. Everywhere you turn we continue to see people in need and we still have people coming to us for help. We are continuing to find some people in desperate situations, but most are waiting - waiting for Road Home money or someone to help them build or rebuild. In terms of projects and people who need help, there is no shortage.
I received a report from Gary Ragas (second in charge of the Parish) that those owning property will be allowed to purchase their F.E.M.A. trailers. The talk among most of the people is that they will be purchasing their trailers because they have no other option at this point.
The Needs of The People
Need (1) It is obvious that there is an issue of housing. It is going to be a long, long time before everyone is in adequate housing. Those who can afford it are purchasing modular housing or mobile homes, if they can afford the insurance and get financing. The physical needs of the people are very apparent and continue to be a high priority.
Need (2) Even though the physical needs of the people are high priority and are obvious, meeting the spiritual and emotional needs of the people are most essential..... emotions and frustrations are very much on the surface. People in Plaquemines are extremely stressed and weary and many just have no where to turn. They are discouraged and really need encouragement. The kind of encouragement that can only be found in Jesus Christ.
Progress & Purpose
From the very beginning of our work my hope was to see a Church planted somewhere in the storm stricken area. I believe this to be God's ultimate will resulting from hurricane Katrina. Much progress has been made toward this possibility. So much so, that we must not give up. Much seed has been sown and we must allow enough time for it to grow. During phases I and II our purpose was to meet the immediate need. Now our purpose has shifted to meeting the spiritual needs of the people. Our works done in Plaquemines is the available road paved for us to witness Jesus Christ to the people.
The Church
Rusty Swafford from Mission Explosion International will be with us the week of the 19th of June to consider the possibility of he and his family moving to Plaquemines to head up the Church plant. His ministry has been instrumental in planting 35 Churches in India. Please pray.....
O.F.M.S. Plaquemines Parish Project Financial Need/Budget
Our work in Plaquemines from this point forward must be all about meeting the spiritual needs of the people. For this to be successful two things must happen. First, O.F.M.S. must maintain a presence in the parish continuing to meet as many physical needs as possible, providing a conduit for people to serve and to be served. This keeps the door open....so to speak. Secondly, a full time evangelist must be on location to water the seed that has been sown. I believe all the pieces are in place. However, we need to see at least a two year commitment from people or Churches willing to fund this effort.
Below you will find a bare minimum budget for O.F.M.S. continued operations in the parish. Rusty and I will get together the week of the 19th to discuss his needs and where his support will come from. Some of you have asked to see an overall budget for ReaLife Ministries. Ninety percent of ReaLife Ministries is O.F.M.S. at this time. For now, I am specifically asking you to help support continued work for our Plaquemines parish project.
I am very positive and very committed to continued operations in Plaquemines. I am asking for your support because I believe in what we have done up to this point and because I do not believe our work here is complete. So much so that I have made a commitment to Henry Heck and his family who we are introducing to you as our new project manager and coordinator. Henry is already proving to be a valuable asset to our efforts. We have also committed to a couple of new projects for this fall.
With all of this being said, the only people I have to turn to for support is those who are receiving this e-mail. Those of you who are or who were team leaders, please pass this information on to your Church and your team members. We are not talking about an insurmountable amount of money. We already have some commitments but only about 20% of our budget.
Thank you so much for your consideration. Any pledge is greatly appreciated. Without you help, this ministry cannot have a vision beyond the next couple of months. Please let me know if you can send a financial contribution to this cause A.S.A.P. Each dollar will be designated to the Plaquemines parish project. We have a cushion of about 40,000 dollars which will not last long. Below is the budget. If you have questions please feel free to ask. Financials are available.
All for Jesus.
Garry
Note: The budget reflects a bare minimum monthly need of 8,350 per month. It costs about $30.00 per week to feed a volunteer. At an additional $70.00 per week, a total of $100.00, a majority of our bare minimum expenses can be met with 20 people per week or 1,000 per year which is about what we are averaging.
ReaLife Ministries of Louisiana, Inc.
504 Pearce Road, Pineville, LA 71360
O.F.M.S. Plaquemines Parish Project/Budget
Monthly Projected Operating Costs
Rent 0
Utilities 70
Electric 400
Gas, Fuel, Oil 800
Equipment Repair 300
Tools 300
Travel 200
Insurance 350
Cell Phones 250
Employee Taxes 175
Administration Salaries
Project Manager 2,500
Group Coordinator 0
Tool & Grounds Manager 1,000
Operations Manager 2,000
Total Requirements = $8,345