May 15,
2006
Dear
Friends,
Last week I
mentioned a BIG deadline that the ranch and organization are facing, that of
needing to raise $100,000 immediately so that we can sign a contract on the
ranch property. The owner wants something by June 1st, or wants to sell it to
another interested buyer...
Someone has
stepped forward (on Friday morning last week, the very next day after the last
email) and verbally promised a portion of this money. Pray that it works out
for them. Anyone care to add their 2 cents? :-)
Last week,
I promised to send out the address of where to send ranch donations to. I
have opened a bank account at Northwest Christian Credit Union in Nampa/Boise
Idaho, and they will receive funds for this project if you wish to donate.
Their address:
Northwest
Christian Credit Union
716 E.
Colorado Ave
Nampa, ID
83686
Mark your
donations with a note "For deposit only into the 'BigHouse Ministries,
Inc' or 'Thorn Creek Conference Center and Youth Ranch' accounts". If you
wish to receive a tax receipt for your donation, please also send us a
note at the ranch here (see below) with your contact information so that we can
do so. You can also send donations directly to the ranch address (see below),
or paypal them to me at timbenedict@peoplepc.com
(at least until I get a ranch paypal account set up).
We have
also had several more pretty big God fingerprints since the last email, aside
from the HUGE possible answer to our prayers for (at least partial) downpayment
funding.
1. Church
service yesterday was very special/good, at the new Clear Creek Fellowship
church where I lead music (the church that several of us started about 8 months
ago in a mountain community near here). We average between 10 and 15 adults
each Sunday, and it is growing and people are growing, and God is being
glorified. It is very awesome.
2. Other
items have been offered to us for donation, and more people are asking for info
in order to help out in their own small ways.... God blesses all of it
:-)
3. A family
from Boise came up yesterday and received a tour of the place and then sat down
with us to discuss our goals, and how God might want them to help out. It was a
very cool time, and we prayed together as a group before they left, just asking
God to be God, and to do His things here. It was pretty special. Anyone who
wants to visit and catch the vision for themselves as well, just call and we'll
see what we can arrange with you. :-)
4. The
volunteer fire department up here did a big practice burn near here on
Saturday. I got some minor smoke inhalation that I am still dealing with even
today (coughing again), but other than that, I learned allot, and it was pretty
cool (several of us ranch staff are on the local volunteer fire department).
5. My
suspected kidney stone thing seems to be clearing up nicely (THANKS for
praying). I am still very sore, but feeling much better.
6. Todd,
our newest board member, an old friend who has been coming up on weekends
since January to help out with stuff, is helping me set up a good financial
accounting/bookkeeping process/system to help track donations and expenditures.
That too is a God thing. I am thankful for Todd's help and input. I am also
very thankful to God for Joshua's help, another old friend who now lives here
and is helping out daily with projects and stuff. The three of us make a
good team, and we are looking forward to those people that God brings
here to add to the growing team. This too, is a cool God-thing.
There are
lots of other little things too, but God is good. It is a good day today to be
alive :-)
In Him
(delighted to be),
-Tim
www.bighouseministries.com
Tim Benedict
Thorn Creek Conference Center & Youth Ranch
21 Yellowpine Ln
Boise, Idaho 83716
208-392-6723
timbenedict@peoplepc.com