I would like to take a few moments of time today to share with you the continuing story of One Heart - Many Hands and the efforts of our volunteers. When the last volunteer team loaded up their tools and headed home from Columbus, OH on July 31, 2010, our efforts weren't over. During the weeklong project in Franklinton (located in the heart of downtown Columbus), Pastor Mike Vallangeon and his team from the Lower LightsCommunity Church of the Nazarene visited each home where we During these visits, they made certain that each homeowner knew that the church would continue to be available for them.

Several families in the community have responded to Pastor Mike's overture. There's "Shirley," who hadn't attended church faithfully for nearly a decade. Now, not only is she a regular in the congregation, she also can be found at the church cooking for outreach ministries and serving her neighbors, just as she was served by OHMH volunteers. There's "Pat" who was featured in the Columbus Dispatch as someone who wanted to improve her home, and was willing to resist drug dealers and gang members to do so. These homeowners and others like them know Pastor Mike is there for them. They now have a better understanding of the Lord we serve.

Pastor Mike describes the role that you played like this: "One Heart - Many Hands has enabled us to bridge relationships into homes and with people whom we have been trying to reach for years."

The story in Columbus has not ended. If you missed last summer's project, you will not want to miss the opportunity to be part of the next chapter of this God-size story. We have already begun planning for next summer's project, which is scheduled for July 31 through August 5. One Heart - Many Hands volunteers like you (along with our partners at Lower Light Ministries and the Lower Lights Christian Healthcare Center) will be repairing more roofs, making more kitchens and bathrooms handicapped accessible, painting houses and generally improving the living conditions of low-income, elderly, handicapped, and single-parent families.

Be certain: your one week in Franklinton this coming summer will continue to support the ministry of Pastor Mike and others who live in and serve their community everyday, every year.

Just like Columbus, the story continues in Orlando. After the General Assembly in 2009, most people thought One Heart - Many Hands packed up and left with everyone else. Actually, your efforts paved the way for us to open a year-round office in the heart of Orlando. We continue our work in the Holden Heights neighborhood, where our goal is to reach every owner-occupied home. How many homes is that? Our studies show that there are as many as 165 owner-occupied homes, and we are working on home #92.

Just last month we were working on Rudy's home located in Holden Heights. During each workday, Rudy would work alongside our volunteers and relationships began to form. That next Sunday morning the team was sharing during their church service about their experience that week. As they were telling their story, they could see someone standing up waving his hands in the back of the church. As they looked closer, they realized it was Rudy and his family. What a wonderful blessing that visit was for these volunteers. But, that isn't all...the next week, we started another home and guess who showed up to help? Yes, it was Rudy. It is wonderful to see Rudy helping others in his community!

As you read these stories, I'm certain you have asked yourself, "Why are we so concerned about home repairs and these communities?" I believe the answer is very simple: these homes and communities represent people, and people matter to God! Working in these homes and communities allows us opportunities to form relationships with people. At the same time, we are addressing living conditions, we are working to bring about positive change in homes and communities.

I would like to express my gratitude for all of our wonderful volunteers. I consider it a great privilege to work with the best group of people in the world -- our OHMH volunteers. Thank you for serving others unconditionally!