It’s a good way to get to know us and learn more about what we’ve been involved in over the past couple of years.

If something strikes a chord with you, let us know.

Here are a couple of highlights from our last few weeks. We’ve been working with our friends at the Family Abuse Center to help solidify the plans for an expansion into the space adjoining their current thrift store. Second Chance is going to double in size and that will be a big help to the Family Abuse Center.

Earlier this month Mannaworks took a brief time out to sharpen our tools by attending a developmental conference for leaders of urban non-profits. You can read more about it in The Mind of Roy

“Second Chance” to Double in size!

Many of the organizations we have helped have put a lot of work into helping kids have a better childhood. It’s easy to warm up to the idea of improving a playground or repainting an activity room.

It may be harder to think about, but it’s even more important to keep children  safe from violence in their own home. Sometimes kids and their mothers have to find safe shelter immediately. That’s where the Family Abuse Center gets involved.

If a mother and her kids need a safe place to start a new live, the Family Abuse Center is available to take them in. Sadly, many nights all the beds are full, with extra mattresses placed on the floor. Domestic violence is epidemic in our community, and the children in violent home suffer the consequences.

One of the tools used by Family Abuse Center to stretch and multiply their limited resources is the thrift store Second Chance. Gently used clothing, household items, small furniture, books and accessories are accepted and resold. Second Chance provides needed clothing for the kids and moms who have fled and unsafe environment with little more than the clothes on their back. It also provides some operating capital by selling remaining donated items to the public. But Second Chances has reached the point where it needs more room to handle the demand created by the increasing number of clients at the Family Abuse Center.

Kathy Reid, the Executive Director at the Family Abuse Center contacted us to help expand the Second Chance facility so more families can have access to the clothes that they need. When the project is completed this fall Second Chance will have doubled the space at its existing location to offer not only clothing but also some simple furniture and others items needed by the kids and their moms as they restart their lives.

If you have gently used clothes or other household items, especially school uniforms consider donating them to Second Chance at 1412 Sunset Street here in Waco. If you enjoy a bargain, shop at Second Chance – their new space may hold the treasure you have been trying to find. Family Abuse Center is a 501(c)3 organization and a receipt for your donations will be provided. If you need additional information, please call the store at 753-6469.

From the Mind of Roy:

Mannaworks recently had the pleasure of going to the annual Christian Community Development Association conference in Chicago. The CCDA is made up of Christian Non-profits like ours from all over the country. Their objective is to help the urban poor in the inner city. It was an honor for mannaworks to be included in this group of roughly 4000 people whose goal is to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the marginalized and beaten down in their communities.

While we were there, we visited one of Chicago’s poorest areas: Lawndale. This neighborhood had been hit hard by the Martin Luther King riots in the late 1960s and it never recovered, but became a haven for drugs and violence. Not many years later, Wayne Gordon began teaching and coaching at Farragut High School on Chicago’s west side. Coach Gordon and his wife Anne were people who believed Jesus really meant what He said. As a result, they relocated to Lawndale. There were not too many white couples willing to move into Lawndale at that time, but the Gordons felt called to. They started hosting a Bible study in their apartment for kids from the nearby school.

Now, 30 years later, Coach Gordon is the pastor of Lawndale Community Church, an African American church that is changing his community. They have built the Lawndale Christian Health Center that serves over 100,000 patient visits a year. They have built the Lawndale Christian Development Center that facilitates economic development, education and housing. They have built houses and apartment complexes so people in the community will have affordable places to live. They have built drug rehab facilities, job training programs, and an early childhood development center. All of these ministries are providing jobs for the people of Lawndale, and they have been created because the Gordons read the Bible and are actually doing what it says.

Waco has its own example of this in Jimmy and Janet Dorrell, the founders of Mission Waco. They were also called to the inner city and have been working to bring change to our community for nearly 20 years.

As Christians, we are not all called to the inner city, but we are all called to believe and live like Jesus really meant what He said. He actually expects us to live like He did. James 4:17 says if we know what we are supposed to do and don’t do it, it is a sin. In other words, if we have knowledge of the Bible but don’t apply it then we don’t have any knowledge at all. If we really take seriously and also believe that the two greatest commandments are to love God with all our heart and love others, there is no telling what we can do by putting that knowledge into everyday practice.

My prayer for all of us is that when we read the gospel that it does not prompt us to mere reflection of it but that it causes us to respond. Everyone who swears allegiance to Christ bears responsibility for humanity and the duty to really make earth as it is in Heaven.

God Bless,

Roy Karr
Executive Director
Mannaworks

We hope you have been enjoying the summer and have taken time to slow down and stay out of the heat. We at mannaworks have watched the momentum of our ministry continue to heat up.  We are still learning of additional non-profits as news of us gets around. Several of our friends in non-profit leadership have told us that we are mentioned at each meeting they attend. They also have told us that there is a growing sense of encouragement about the results we are delivering. We don’t say that to pat ourselves on the back, but to share the ‘thanks’ with you, our friends and supporters

As your read more, you can learn about a significant project we have been helping develop and some additional opportunities to expand the work.

CrossRoads’ C-4 project up and running!

You probably remember that the C-4 project is the work of CrossRoads Church in the Kate Ross public housing area and that it is helping local residents in a variety of ways. Located at Ross and 12th, the building is a converted duplex with one side dedicated to staging events to help the neighborhood and the other is to be maintained as a residence.

Every Tuesday and Thursday evening, the people of CrossRoads gather there to give the local kids a place to play. During parts of the evening the kids are also learning to basics of Christian faith. Parents of those kids are sometimes also there to enjoy the night (and sometimes food and music) and get to learn along with their children. Well over a hundred people have been at some of those gatherings and it looks like the momentum and influence are going to continue to build. Eventually, the church is hoping to house someone at C-4 who can be a neighborhood resource.

Mannaworks‘ involvement in this project was needed to provide the necessary project management skills and get the most value of every dollar spent on its development. We took the structure from the point of exposed studs and wires to its current state. It now has new wiring, new plumbing, new insulation, new walls, new paint and newly installed ventilation equipment. We have worked continually to keep the contractors, inspectors and materials needs on track. Several professional contractors provided the skilled expertise at reduced rates in support of the project. CrossRoads Church has provided the funds to cover the cost of materials and the professional labor. They have also provided a lot of the volunteer work. The remaining work on the building will include laying the flooring and installing electrical and plumbing fixtures. After the air conditioning is hooked up it will be complete.

Future plans for the C-4 project include computer training in a dedicated room on site, health and medical services, lots more fun and games for the kids, food distribution and more

A view from the inside:

I volunteer at mannaworks and I do it with a strong sense of privilege. God has called Roy and Kevin to take part in helping His people in a very practical way. I can’t tell you how much I enjoy working alongside them and watching them as they respond to His call.

Although mannaworks was created less than a year ago we have already completed many critical repairs that would not have been feasible without our intervention. Our work has included numerous simple fixes that were completed in a day or two. Other more significant efforts have helped churches and other non-profits regain the full use of buildings that were on their on their way toward being vacated.

If you’ve been a financial supporter of mannaworks, please know that we appreciate you. We know that our work would be impossible without your help. The people we are helping also know that our work is possible only because of your generosity and are very grateful to you.

You probably already know that we’ve been able to save the local non-profits a surprising amount of money since we got to work.  But did you know that the total savings of just three projects is over $50,000?

Here’s how it breaks down:

My Brother’s Keeper expansion, not $30,000, but $13,000. That saved $17,000.

James Chapel restoration, not $30,000, but $15,000. That saved $15,000.

The ROCK roof repair, not $24,000, but $1,200. That saved $22,800.

The total savings of these three projects alone is $54,800!

If you haven’t become a supporter yet, but have thought about it, now is a good time to start. With your added support there are many examples of opportunities we could pursue. If we have 10 more donors of $20 dollars per month we can say “Yes” to one additional simple plumbing repair. If we have 10 more donors of $50 per month we can say “Yes” to an additional plumbing repair and an electrical repair.

What does a $200 plumbing repair buy? An area crisis shelter had a common bathroom that had been almost unusable for two years. They had spent several hundred dollars as they struggled to keep it working and prevent it from overflowing. After a visit from mannaworks, both of the affected toilets were working perfectly (maybe for the first time)! The staff was overwhelmed with gratitude.

We have a project board at our offices at Franklin and 28th with over 20 items under current development. Several of these projects are waiting for funding. Feel free to come by for more information and contribute to your favorite project.

If you’ve been praying for us and this ministry, thank you! God’s clearly blessing mannaworks in response to your prayers. If you are a monthly donor, thank you! Your financial support is a practical help that is required for us to function day to day. If you’ve been a donor in the past and would like to do so regularly we can set you up with our automated bank draft (ACH) arrangement and deposits will be made at the time and in the amount designated by you. If you’ve never given to mannaworks you can start. You can start now. Simply mail a donation to the address below or call Roy to talk about the possibilities.

We are looking forward to more days of following God’s call to help the helpers and look forward to your continued support

Cliff Harris

Mannaworks

PO Box 5383
Waco, TX 76708

As May ended we looked at our wall calendar and said “Wow, that was a busy month!” Some of the things we were involved in included a new effort called “C4″, a better way to enjoy the weather at MBK, and a different way for the kids at the R.O.C.K. to learn if it’s raining. Read more to get the details on these projects.

Explosive Improvements at C4

CrossRoads church establishes compassionate beachhead near Kate Ross public housing

The intersection of 12th and Ross has long been known for conflict. It has been the site of everything from protests, to drug traffic to violent crime.

But it is gaining a new and more hopeful reputation thanks to the efforts of CrossRoads Church. With very little money, (but a lot of prayer and hard work) the church was able to buy property at the intersection to transform it into something new.

Two residences stood on the site. One of them has been removed and the remaining building is being remodeled for a whole new purpose.

Volunteers from CrossRoads removed and replaced the exterior siding and had removed old fixtures and drywall. New wiring was being installed when we were called to lend a hand to the progress.

Working hand-in-hand with the people of CrossRoads, we at Mannaworks have added to the momentum of the work. We have installed new structural improvements and brought our skilled contractors to the site to complete the wiring, repair the plumbing, apply new insulation and drywall, and begin other finishing work.

When the project is completed the neighborhood will have a new place for CrossRoads and its allies to stage helpful events for the children and other residents of the Kate Ross neighborhood.

This will be a multi-week effort. Check back next month for the rest of the story.

MBK Awning Improvements

Enjoying the weather; inside and out

Sometimes you just have to go outside and enjoy the weather, and sometimes the weather is not very enjoyable. In both of these situations a well-made awning can make a lot of difference.

Clients at the My Brother’s Keeper homeless shelter can now enjoy those late evening moments outside thanks to the new awning that welder Jeremy Echols and Mannaworks installed in the backyard of the shelter.

What about those moments when you’d rather enjoy the weather inside? That has been improved as a result of removal of a sheet metal wall that was enclosing the heating/air conditioning compressor units. Jeremy built a wrought iron security fence and the units can now “breathe” better and that makes the weather inside of MBK a little bit better too.

R.O.C.K. Children’s Center gets a reliable roof:

Mannaworks saves local non-profit over $20,000!

Fixing the roof:

When it rained, it poured (inside) at the R.O.C.K.

This was another building with a leaking roof, but not anymore. The roof was pressure washed, and all holes patched. A scupper (where rainwater drains off of the side) was repaired and the roof looks like new.

Now when it rains the kids don’t care (except they can’t go outside and play). You’ll be reading more about this facility later when Mannaworks goes back to improve the attached play area.

Saving the money:

Leadership of the R.O.C.K. had been led to believe they needed to replace the roof with a new metal roof at a cost of $24,000. They were reluctantly prepared to pay that amount. Mannaworks was called for a second opinion. We investigated and were able to direct minor repairs costing only $1,200 which extended the expected life of the roof by 10 years. The savings on this project alone was over $20,000!

The Mind of Roy:

I was listening to a sermon last week and the pastor was talking about a woman who was asked to describe her God. The only thing she said was “My God don’t play.” What she said stayed with me. Our God doesn’t play. He is serious about this world and the people in it. He proved that by sending His Son to die on the cross for us. Imagine the pain and anguish He felt to do that! God is serious about the people in this world and He needs His people, the ones that profess Him as Savior, to be as serious as He is.

As Christians we sometimes live as if what Jesus said was “Seek first all these other things and the kingdom of God will be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these other things will be given to you as well.” As Christians we need to be serious about seeking Him first and not letting the other things take priority in our lives.

Mannaworks is restoring a building for a pastor who is serious about the people in the projects. He’s so serious he bought a couple of houses directly across the street from them and right next door to a known crack house so his church could directly minister to that area. He is seeking the Kingdom first by loving and ministering to a pretty tough group of people.

He goes over there every week and walks through the projects ministering to and praying for the people who live there. He was even confronted by a couple of drug dealers who told him he needed to leave because he wasn’t good for their business. He just told them that he wasn’t going anywhere and that he was praying they would go away instead. Well, the minister is still there and the drug dealers are gone. His God don’t play. He is definitely serious about God and doing what the scriptures say to do.

As Christians we know we are supposed to love and fear God, read the Bible, pray and worship Him with our lives. But actually transitioning that from our head to our heart is the hard part. God never said following Him would be easy.

I believe God wants us to be uncomfortable because it is when we are uncomfortable that we call on Him and depend on Him the most. Maybe we are not all called into the projects but we are all called to live for Christ every day. God rescued us by sending His Son and now He expects us, the rescued, to become the rescuers to the world. We owe that to God.

Roy Karr
Mannaworks

We’ve cleared a major hurdle with approval as a Federal tax exempt charity!

Donors from 2009 should have already received their amended year end tax receipt statements reflecting this new designation as a 501(c)(3) organization.
What are some of the other matters we are involved in? The Lighthouse is getting a new roof. The final phase of James Chapel repair is coming in April. And don’t forget to check and see what’s going on in Roy’s mind.

See below for more information.

501(c)(3) Approval!

What does that mean and why does that matter?

It means that we are officially recognized as a tax exempt organization.
For you that means that your donations to mannaworks are tax deductible. We know that you support us for many right reasons, but we also know that you like the amount of those contributions deducted from your taxes.
For us that means that we don’t have to pay taxes and are not subject to certain fees that other businesses are responsible for paying.  This will avoid costs of hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars, and that saved money can be applied to our ministry efforts.

It also means that we can now pursue something that we have been asked about many times, and that is automatic monthly donations. With our newly received tax designations, numbers and secret handshake we can complete the paperwork to make that happen. Soon after this process is completed we will be able to respond to those questions with the details you need to begin those automatic monthly donations.

We go where the need is and after this very wet start to the year its been all about roofs and leaks.

The latest effort is at the Lighthouse transitional housing unit.  The building is a part of Mission Waco’s rehabilitation strategy. It provides “Christian based living for men who have completed treatment and are trying to re-establish themselves back into mainstream society.” This is the final step toward a return to succesful life for the men who reside there.

The roof had failed at several key points and had outlasted its expected life. It has been torn off and a new deck and roof are being installed.

James Chapel’s trim and carpet phase

Final steps coming in mid April!

When we left James Chapel several weeks ago everyone was very happy with the progress. We could see the repaired foundation, and we were able to install new windows and replace the suspended ceiling. We were even able to install new roofing shingles over the new roof deck.

Best of all, our volunteers and the people of James Chapel got to know each other as we shared a day of putting our best effort into repairing the building. Pastor Lacy tells us that there have been no more leaks and they are back to worshiping in their sanctuary.

From the mind of Roy:

One of the great things about mannaworks is getting to meet the extraordinary people who run the non-profits we are trying to help.  These people saw a need, trusted in God, and chose to meet the need. These are just a few of the organizations we have been meeting:

Caritas was started in the basement of a church by some ladies who decided to create a food pantry.  Now it is the biggest food distribution center in the county helping up to 100 people a day who are in need of emergency assistance.

Mission Waco was started by a man who saw a need, trusted God and now it is one of the biggest urban ministries in the state helping the homeless and the poor.

Friends For Life was started by a lady that just happened to be at the hospital visiting her grandmother when another lady asked her to stay with her because she didn’t want to die alone.  She saw a need, prayed to God to help her meet the need and now it is one of the largest adult day care and service facilities for the elderly in the state. Their guardianship services are offered in 39 counties.

It took a few years for me to figure out that as Christians, we often sit on the sidelines waiting for some grand sign from God, that we are supposed to get in the game and start helping and reaching people. When a bolt of lightning doesn’t strike, we shrug and think “I guess God doesn’t need me here”. We need to stop the constant praying and talking about a sign from God and just act. God just wants us to act on what we see and He will take it where He wants it to go.

As Christ’s followers we’re not only called to preach the good news but we are called to embody it with our lives by acting on the needs of those hurting around us.  That could be a co-worker, friend, church member or a homeless person.  If we only think about Jesus, and only believe things about Jesus, not much is going to happen.  It is when we take the risk of acting like Jesus acted that starts changing our soul and who we are in Christ. 

James 1:22 says “be doers of the word, and not hearers only” that is what the leaders of these non-profits did.  Not only have they changed the lives of many people, but their lives have also been tremendously changed in Christ.

God Bless,

Roy

It has been a month since the mannaworks banquet and we are moving full steam ahead.  We have moved into our offices and settled in.  We are already getting many calls from non-profits that need help with their facilities and many more calls from church groups that want to volunteer.

God laid on our hearts that there was a need for this type of ministry, but we don’t think even we realized how big the need is or is going to be but I know God does.  (He is in control we are just along for the ride!)  It is an honor for us to get to know some of the people we are working with.

Read on about a few of the projects we are working on.

Rehabbing Mission Waco’s Mannahouse

Mannahouse is a drug rehab facility that is one of the Mission Waco properties.  We are in the process of fixing the foundation right now and that is going well.  So far, rotten foundation beams have been removed and replaced, and decayed concrete piers have been sledgehammered out and new ones poured in their place. We will also be addressing concerns with windows, roofing, and siding.  In the past Mission Waco would have to spend valuable time coordinating and overseeing this project.  Now mannaworks does that for them, saving them time and money and letting them concentrate on taking care of the people they need to take care of.

Restore James Chapel in Leroy

Harris creek Baptist church has partnered with mannaworks to fix up the James Chapel in Leroy.  The church is over a hundred years old and desperately needs some help.  Even though the church sits at a slant, the windows don’t close and the roof leaks there is a faithful congregation there every Sunday trying their best to spread God’s love in a very poor community.

The foundation is in the process of being fixed right now and on January 16th a group of variously skilled volunteers from Harris Creek will be tackling the roof and windows. If you are interested in helping with this project see our contact information below.

Improvements at My Brother’s Keeper

My Brother’s Keeper has both an overnight shelter and longer term housing in the Supportive Housing Program (SHP). People in the SHP can take up to 6 months to gather resources to move into permanent housing. During that time they share living space with each other. Mannaworks is updating and replacing existing cabinets for their personal belongings in the SHP. The new cabinets will give them a better sense of dignity and more security.

Mannaworks is also adding a covered sitting area to protect them from the weather when they are outside, and we are improving the way the heating/air conditioning equipment is enclosed.