7-6-2004
Dear
Friends,
Where to
start, where to start..... :-)
Every time
I (Tim) sit down to put into a nutshell for you all the things that God is
doing, I have to stop and think a minute, just to figure out where to start.
And invariably, after I send each letter, I slap myself because I forgot to put
something else in, that God is doing or has done. What a predicament!
So first
things first. (This is truly exciting). Read it all, because there's some neat
stuff at the end of this letter too :-)
We are now
working on our nonprofit 501c3 tax-exempt filing with the Government (Jessica
is doing it- and loves it - HUGE answer to prayer). We are tentatively calling
ourselves "Big House Ministries", and are filing/registering that
name next week. Reid and Jessica, my close friends in Boise, and myself,
have officially joined ranks in our efforts. We are pulling together to
run and direct Big House Ministries, with 4 major focuses in mind. The
children's ranch eventually here on Thorn Creek. The unwed mothers home in
Boise. The Conference Center here on Thorn Creek. And a ministry to young men,
many of whom are just coming out of prison, also here on Thorn Creek. And since
we keep referring among ourselves to the ranch being "the big house in the
mountains", and the unwed mothers'/crisis pregnancy home to "the
big house in Boise", after we prayed about it, it just seemed appropriate
to call ourselves "Big House Ministries" *grin*.
For myself,
the church in Robie Creek has officially asked me to be their youth pastor for
a year or two, and train one of their young men to effectively care on the
ministry after I transfer my time 100% to Big House Ministries. This was an
answer to prayer as well, for both them and myself.
Up here at
the ranch, God is God of the little things as well as the big. The fan
motor went out on my car, and I couldn't even drive home to the ranch without
having to pull over several times to let the engine cool. After praying about
it for several days, as I was sorting through some of my old boxes looking for
something entirely unrelated, lo and behold, there sat a fan motor,
identical to the one in my car, that I have no earthly idea where I got it
or how long I have had it. Probably came from a cleanout job or something and just
got tossed in a box. But it didn't work either when I tried it. But when I took
it apart, and the failed one in my car apart, I had enough good parts to
combine them and create one good working fan motor that now keeps my engine
cool and running appropriately. God is good *chuckle*.
We have
also officially extended the invitation to a young couple to move up to the
ranch and be staff. One of the young ladies in Reid and Jessica's group led her
husband in prison to the Lord 2 weeks ago. He is asking tons of questions now,
and wants to serve and follow God. They have asked if I will sponsor them when
he gets out on parole, possibly as soon as August. Me and Reid and Jessica
prayed about it and discussed it, and then offered them a room in the ranch
house for their family, in return for working on the ranch and letting us
mentor them. We shall see what God works out. She grew up in this area and they
would both be assets to our staff here, and a brother and sister in Christ that
we could fellowship with.
I do now
have running water in the house here at the ranch too. No hot water for hot
showers yet, but water none the less. I also spent quite some time last week
working on the hydro electric stuff, and actually got it running too. Now I
just have to tune it to bring the voltage the rest of the way up to where
I can effectively use it. So I'm making progress there too. I still need some
more working car batteries though if you have any extra good ones laying
around. Any solar panels would be good too. In fact, if you or your church or
youth group or something wanted to take that on as a project, buying solar
panels for the ranch, that would be so appreciated. This place will take a fair
bit of power to run, once it is up and running.
I have been
praying for staff housing here at the ranch too. I have youth and
people committed to moving onsite to help build this place, and no place
to put them! The house has 4 bedrooms: my bedroom, my daughters bedroom, a
bedroom for a couple moving here in August, and a guest room. There is
also one guest cabin now partially functional. There is another woman
scheduled to move here in September that I have no place to house
her, potentially 3 young men that also need rooms, another couple
that wants to move up now (and will probably end up staying in their 5th
wheeler onsite), and another family needing a place that is considering
moving to the ranch in the fall. But there are only three unfinished
rooms in the conference center (whose foundation needs stabilized first), several
small cabins in absolute state of disrepair, and a bunkhouse in desperate need
of repair, and other than that, no place to put them all!. So I have
been praying for God to provide housing. And just this week,
an opportunity opened up for us to potentially procure 3 houses in Boise, just
for the cost of moving them, 2 small ones to the ranch ($10,000~$15,000 each to
move, 4bed/1bath and a 1bed/1bath), and a larger
one to the future unwed mother's home site (about $35,000
to move, 5bed/2bath). Additionally, we tracked down 3 more small cabin size
studio houses that we can have for $5000 each, moved and set in place. Does
anyone want to take this on as a project? Fundraising what we need to move one
or more of these 6 houses? We are putting our non profit status into place
now, and working out details of getting the ranch and lifehouse properties into
our names, and once that is done, we can move these houses in immediately if
funding is there. Talk to me or email me if you are interested in helping get
these 6 houses moved. We need the help.
Down in
Boise, Satan is really trying to destroy the Bible study group at Reid and
Jessica's, first through internal personality conflicts, and then through
outside influences. I was really proud this week of the way the young people
finally focused on God again, and laid aside some issues, and worked through
others, and then rebonded even more tightly together. Keep in mind that this
group is consistently reaching out to other young people, drawing them in, and
pointing people to God. Pray for them. God is raising up leaders in that group,
and staff for both the ranch and the lifehouse (the unwed mother's home). But
now Satan is attacking through external influences against many members of the
group.
But God is
still victor. A young woman just 2 nights ago, rededicated her life to God, and
sold out 100% to Him, through the ministry of several people in that group. We
are not keeping count, but I am aware of at least 2 salvations directly
attributable to the prayers and efforts of this group, and at least 5 complete
rededications, just in the last 4 weeks. And the spontaneous all night prayer
meetings continue to happen. It's kind of amazing really *soft smile*.
And some of
these young people are paying the price too. One young lady (Mormon
background), because of her involvement with God and this group, and the way
she now desperately and truly chases after the heart of God, was completely
disowned by her biological family on Tuesday this week. Pray for her, and others
like her coming into the group, that are paying a high price for selling out to
God.
And this
part is exciting. Remember how we had asked for prayer for God to find us a
house in Boise for the unwed Mother's home that Reid and Jessica are putting together?
God directed us to one. Depending on how we utilize it, it has between 13 and
19 bedrooms, between 6 and 8 bathrooms, and other rooms including a great room,
rec. room, and childcare facility, on 1 acre, in Southwest Boise. Someone
called Reid and Jessica up from out of state, and said they didn't know why,
weren't aware of what we had been praying for, but that God had told him to
call and tell us about this great big house where he had once lived 4 or 5
years ago. And when we followed up, the house is ready to go on the
open market next week.......... *chuckle*. Timing? God is cool. But we are
exploring ways to put an offer down or something, just to keep it off the
market so that we have time to get it ourselves. Help? The owner will carry the
note for us if we can put $75,000 down. Good thing we serve a BIG God... *grin*
We and a
number of the young people in our care have gone through this house several
times now, and prayed over it, worshipped God in it, and dedicated it to God's
use, and are praying/trusting that God will work out the details and give it to
us. God is so totally using this to build up the faith of these young people
already in our care. There are now 2 single women living with Reid and Jessica,
one of which has already asked (and we have accepted) to be on-staff at
the new unwed mother's facility. They need a new bigger place ASAP. And I do
mean ASAP. Oh. We want to call this branch of the ministry "His
Lifehouse".
PLEASE pray
that God works out the details for us to get this place ASAP. Time is of
essence. The Big House in Boise. With lots and lots of rooms..... (Yes, that is
a line from the Audio Adrenaline (Christian music group) song about
our Father's house..... It just seemed appropriate somehow.... :-)
).
We are exploring
several options to get both the ranch and the house in Boise into our name,
free and clear. Pray that God gives us wisdom and grace in this, and paves the
way.
It just
kinda hit me recently, that the ranch and the lifehouse, are both being built
by youth, for youth. Staffed even by youth in many ways. There are a
number of older and more mature Christian people and families that
are solidly behind what God is doing with us, that consistently cover us
in prayer and/or provide logistical support, individuals that I am truly
thankful for, but it's primarily youth that are pulling together to make
it happen. And in some ways, that is as it should be. But I'll also be honest
and say that it saddens me that we still do not have the official
declared support of (or even been asked to share the ministry with) any
one single church other than the one where I personally minister (where members
are bending over backward to support me/us with prayer and logistical
support - and I thank God almost daily for them). Something is wrong with this
picture, and it saddens me.
It is my
hope, passion, dream, and prayer that God will use Big House Ministries to
provide Christ Centered healing to people from across denominational lines here
in Boise and Southwestern Idaho. I/we WANT to talk to pastors across the valley
and build bridges and a network of referrals so that this ministry is available
to help people all across the valley and southwestern Idaho.
Because we
do not have the monthly support of individuals or churches, only dedicated-use
one time gifts so far, Reid, Jessica, and myself are in the unfortunate
position of still having to split our focus between the ministry and
working in the secular world. I repair computers and appliances, do some internet
stuff, and edit manuscripts. Reid and Jessica run a professional office, home,
and real estate cleaning company. If you have work for us to do, or can pledge
monthly support to our ministries, we want to hear from you. Call one of
the numbers listed below. Thankyou. Their home budget only runs about $1000,
same as mine, and yet we are all three still coming up short. Pray that this is
somehow worked out, and either work or support comes in. Pray also that funding
comes in, whether it be through grants or pledged support, for us to start
paying the limited staff that we have already accepted. They will
each also be raising some support of their own I suspect, but funds
through Big House Ministries itself would also be good. My website has
been up and down lately, so if it is down, contact us for directions if
you want to help out monetarily or with properties/goods. We have a church
that has tentatively agreed to run tax receipts for us, so gifts of funding or
property are tax deductible even now.
So,
wrapping it up, God is doing some amazing things, and touching lives in amazing
ways. He is also moving very fast. It's very exciting *grin*. A little scary
maybe too..... *chuckle*. Reid, Jessica, and myself are operating on sheer
overload, and daily having to seek God for strength. What He is doing with us
and through us is bigger than what we can do ourselves, but in God, as we
follow His orders in faith, we can do anything *whew!* , and thus are
proceeding accordingly. We are opening the doors for your participation
and involvement, to allow you and others to share the blessing that God is
pouring out, if you want to help. We have many projects that would be ideal
weekend work-party projects or youth group retreat projects or any number of
things, both here and at lifehouse in Boise once we get the properties into our
name. Please call us if interested or God lays it on your hearts.
OK.... just
a few minutes ago, someone donated a double bed frame and box spring for use at
either the ranch or lifehouse *chuckle*. What a comfort *thankful
smile*. God is moving....... *grin* I am SO glad I serve Him!
Just off
the phone... Stuff happening with both ranch and lifehouse properties for
possibly securing them immediately. PLEASE PRAY!!!!!! *nervous excitement*.
Prayer
Requests:
1. That we
walk in wisdom and purity before God in Big House Ministries
2. Prayer
warriors to cover us and those people that we touch
3. That we
can secure title to both the ranch and the lifehouse ASAP
4. Money to
move all 6 houses that we have access to, just for the cost of moving
them.
5. That God
continues to bring us the right staff, and housing for them.
6. That all
the 501c3 non-profit status paperwork goes through quickly and easily.
7. Day to
day work/funds/support for myself, Reid, Jessica, and our staff so
that we can focus time on the ranch and the lifehouse.
Oh, by way
of human drama in my life.....
Had my
first bear visitor up here at the ranch last night. I went out in the dark to
turn off the generator about 2am once I was done with it, and a bear woofed at
me from down the driveway. Rather startled me.... *laughter*. I barked back at
it (in a strained and higher than normal pitched voice), and it ran off,
but my goodness, the adrenaline was flowing higher than I remember in a LONG
LONG time.....I am more and more aware of God's watchcare over us. Thank you
each one that prays for me. :-)
Grace and
Peace to our family in Christ,
-Tim
Benedict
-Reid and
Jessica Richardson
Big House
Ministries
208-378-9157
208-392-6723