The Vine Newsletter

THE LAWSON’S TRAVEL GUIDE

MILESTONES ON THE JOURNEY TO PLANTING A CHURCH

Leavened bread is still tasty Jesus said to His disciples by the sea one day "Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." They were confused, wondering to themselves because they didn’t bring any bread, much less any yeast (leaven). Often it is so tempting for us to compare ourselves to the disciples in this passage. Being naive and ignorant about truth is much more palatable to accept than being the person Jesus says to avoid....It is here I had to begin. One thing I have seen over and over in my wicked heart is that sin and lies taste good to me. Not all of me, but that part of me that stands in opposition to God’s absolute reign in my life. The more we have a taste for the yeast of sin, the yeast of doctrine that takes us from the glory and sufficiency of Christ, the more this tasty loaf grows, and it doesn’t take much, just a pinch.

So here we are, enjoying the bread that is killing us, while Jesus warns us not of the Pharisees, “those” people, but of the yeast that they had that can enter our hearts and become our own. In contrast, Jesus gives us an answer that also helps us recognize the bread rising up in us that is not feeding us and giving us life, a simple answer that in the desire for

the tasty we miss the fulfilling. Jesus says in John chapter 6 that He is the bread of life, the living bread that came down out of heaven and gives true life to men. The bread of life is not always the most tasty, not always the most beautiful, in fact it is a bread that has been broken, but it is the only bread to feed His children, the only bread to give us life!

JOHANA ALDRICH Born: Pasto, Colombia Birthday: June 1st Address: 11120 Plank road, Baton Rouge, La. 70811 Favorite color: purple My name is Johana Aldrich and I grew up in Maine. I graduated from Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Georgia with a B.S. degree in Family and Children’s Ministry with a minor in Early Childhood Education. I have a heart to give hope to the hopeless and less fortunate. My passion is building healthy relationships with children and their families to give them encouragement and guidance in a fallen world. After much prayer and confirmation from family and friends I feel that ‘The Vine Ministries is the place where God has called me to minister and use the gifts He has empowered me with to minister most effectively. It is an act of God that has brought me to this place of ministry. In July, I specifically started praying about another job. I currently despised the one that I work at because I knew I was not in the place God wanted me anymore. I started praying on a Monday and He opened the door for me

MARV to leave on good terms that Friday. I started pursuing another job option and PASTOR then heard about ‘The Vine Ministries’ and felt a large pull towards it, even though I did not know much about it. I still pursued the other option whole heartedly, but started feeling torn. I did a working interview at the other job, but knew God was calling me somewhere else. The other place felt the same pull and we mutually agreed that it was not the place for me. I then flew out to Louisiana and visited the ministry and fell in love with what I felt God was doing here. The passion in my heart was ignited as I heard more about my possible job position and I just knew it was the place for me; it felt like ‘home’. God has blessed me with a parents who encourage me to pursue my dreams follow wherever JOE and AND MERCY ANNE God leads. I will be forever grateful for their support and encouragement to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading no matter the cost. I am grateful to have to the opportunity pursue my dreams and calling God has placed in my life. I feel one of the largest prayer needs is that God would provide the financial needs to move from Atlanta, Georgia, where I currently reside, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I desire to have the strength to move forward and let go in saying good-bye to things of the past and people that are familiar and comfortable to me. I desire the strength to stay strong in the faith and start a new ministry. One of my largest desires is that I stay completely sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading in the next steps in life.

JASMINE MENDEZ

Born: Long Beach, New York Birthday: March 26th Address: 11120 plank road, Baton Rouge, LA. 70811 Favorite verse: Psalms 27

Hello my name is Jasmine Mendez, I am writing this article for my brothers and sisters in Christ and family and friends, so that you can get to know me a little better. I am a young woman that was born and raised in Long Beach, New York. I was fortunate enough to get accepted into Nyack Christian College. With the help of the Lord and many mentors I was able to graduate with a Bachelors of Science in Childhood Education with a concentration in health and science. I was raised in a Christian environment all my life, but that doesn’t mean it was easy. Through positive and negative circumstances in my life God brought me through. Now I am here in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and I am so happy to be joining The Vine Ministry. I have known Nate and Kara Lawson and their family for about a year and a half now. When Nate called me and asked me about praying to pioneer a Daycare Care, I felt like I was not worthy of that position. I told him I had to pray about it and I needed funding and confirmation. I started praying and talking to mentors and everyone told me that it was an amazing opportunity. I also was praying that my mother, who is my best friend my everything, would approve of me going because I would be leaving her alone. I needed the peace and assurance that she would be taken care of. Little by little my mother came around and thought everything through, she told me that as my mom she didn’t want me to go but she knew that she wanted to see me happy and follow God’s plan in life. This and the peace and happiness that God gave me were answers to my prayers. Prayer for funding was answered when my plane ticket was payed for, when my sister and mentor Suzanne I. Mena blessed me with an offering, my mother and boyfriend gave me toiletry money and also a surprise church offering from my home church Crusade Evangelical Church that covered some expenses in getting luggage here. Since I have been here God has been showing me how to let him love me and provide for me. He has shown me the love of a family. Right now all I could ask for is for prayer for doors to open, the doors for funding to start The Vine Café and The Vive Daycare Center. Also I personally need prayer for decision making on going back to college to get my masters, and for discernment on what college to attend and what major I should pursue. I also would like to ask for prayer for my mother, friends, and families health and all needs that they may have. One thing you should know about me is that I have a heart to help all that may need it. I come from a broken home and many unhealthy relationships throughout my life. I am also a survivor of the AML Leukemia cancer and the streets of Long Beach. I know what it feels like when you feel you are worth nothing and not love yourself. I can tell you that my journey with Christ has not been easy; it has been a roller coaster. I am pleased to say that although I may have good and bad days, I now know that I am loved and not doing it on my own and for the first time in a long time I can really believe that. I look forward to helping and ministering to everyone I may meet, young or elderly with the heart that God has given me. I look forward to building relationships and being a part of the The Vine Ministry Family!

THE VINE APARTMENTS •••

THE VINE APARTMENTS Jasmines apartment is ready, even includes a pull out couch, chairs and tables from Waveland!

The paint was dried, the carpet was down, the tile was laid, and the drops of sweat were dried to. We had prayed that God would be gracious in our inabilities and shortcomings and help us to finish the apartments in the first 100 days, but we have three done and the fourth mostly complete, and it is about a month since that prayer! At each setback, rotted floors, mold and mildew, broken door frames, thousands of square feet of work...God gave grace and continues to give grace. There was one day last week that I looked around at all the people moving around doing things in the apartments. Men working on laying tile in the hallway, men putting carpet into apartments, ladies painting, ceiling fans being put in, ladies cooking, ladies painting, all of us, from the kids to the adults sweating, smiling, laughing, and working toward the same thing. In that moment I saw God in the midst of a

Johana’s apartment, all she needs is a fridge, some paint in the bathroom, and on her cabinets and she will be ready to go!

work so much bigger than us, so much harder than our feeble willpower. He showed me in our weaknesses how much He loves to demonstrate how perfect His strength can be.

Our prayer now is simple: God show us what you want for the rest of these apartments. Each corner, every window, door frame and cabinet is yours and we want these to be used for Glory. We ask as you read this that this would be yours as well!

CULTIVATING THE PLANT: ANSWERS TO PRAYER

The first answer to prayer is God’s provision is sending Jasmine and Johana. They have jumped right into the work with no complaints and no hesitation! They have been putting flooring down, pulling carpet, painting, staining, cutting, and cleaning, and then meeting with us for staff meetings after having been with us 24/7. Their patience and understanding in the messiness of church planting has been a real blessing. Second, we have some guys who have become a special part of the ministry and our family, Greg and Brian.

Projector

$500 Projector screen

$150 Sound System

$2000 Apt. Renovation $1000 Curriculum

$200 bathroom stalls $1000 Total needed

$4850

Answers to prayer from the Vine cont’d. ••• "The little estimate we put on prayer is evidence from the little time we give to it."  E.M. Bounds They are part of the Christian Life Center in Waveland Miss., and have generously and sacrificially come on numerous occasions and gave of their time and expertise in order to help us with their skills (and boy have we needed it!) The whole crew from Waveland and from New Orleans have been instrumental in our own hearts, in the process of getting the center ready, and in support for everybody on staff. The supplies for the Vine Cafe counter, tiles for the hallway, and two apartments have been purchased thanks to the Canadian team who came down the first week of October ! and helped in the ministry center! Jasmine and Johana’s apartments are near completion, and a fourth apartment has been carpeted. The ladies are itching to move in,and hopefully will be ready to do so soon! One of our prayers coming down was that the kids would be able to transition well when they came down. Last week we got news that two kids were on honor roll, and the third was one grade away! We also are celebrating two birthdays this month, one of which is the big 13! The crew from Canada, Chris, Rob, and Adam!

THE KID’S CORNER

NATE & KARA Married: 11 years birthdays: Aug. 15th & May 1st Anniversary: October 30th Address: 11120 Plank road, Baton Rouge, La. 70811 Children: Kyra (12), Nathan Jr. (11),Victoria (10) Cooper the dog (5)