4-22-15

Greetings my friends and neighbors!

I hope this message finds you all well into a magical hump day. Wednesday it is and I am excited to be in Memphis preparing for a UBFM ride this evening. Currently, the weather is beautiful and it appears to be here to stay. Earlier this week a chance of rain was in the forecast but it looks to have taken a different route. It is sizing up to be a good night.

Many of you have noticed the work being done in The Carpenter’s House (our new location next to FUMC). This is our new home! I have been talking about this project for over a year and it is happening! We are sharing the building with Room in the Inn Memphis and Iona Community of Faith. It is under construction and getting a makeover but when all is finished it will be our permanent home. Since there is so much going on in the building and it is a construction zone we will meet back at the church tonight. We are still using the church and we will continue to use the kitchen because it is a momentous help to us. We have been blessed with a relationship with FUMC and they have been a huge part of this organization for over a year. Because of them we have grown significantly.

There are a lot of events and fundraisers planned for the summer. I hope you can be part of some of them. The funds we make will be invested into supplies to be delivered but they will also be used for construction and renovations to The Carpenter’s House. Also, you can donate anytime at www.ubfm.net. Share our organization with your friends! Tell people about us and tell them that good things are happening in Memphis. Join us in being part of the “salt and light” in this city. Our weekly mission is quite simple; we deliver food and supplies to people on the streets of Memphis. But, under the surface it is so much greater. We are allowing people to know that love, the mortar that holds a community together, is present and abundant here. Your actions and the way you respond to your community is how that mortar is created. I recently heard a preacher say, “There are bad things happening in the world. If you don’t think there are bad things happening then open the newspaper, look at social media, or turn on the TV.” My response to that is, there are good things happening in the world. Close the newspaper turn off the computer and television, and go out into the community and see the good things that are happening. Then, be part of it. UBFM is not just a ministry; it is part of a movement to provide peace, joy, encouragement, and love to the people in our community. I hope that you will join to be part of this radical and amazing movement.

 Tonight we will meet at our regular scheduled time and place: 7:30 PM at FUMC, 204 N Second St, Memphis, TN 38105. If you would like to help with preparing some burritos, we will get started in the kitchen around 6:00 PM. We will roll out around 8:00 and return around 9:30 or 10:00. If you plan on riding with us I look forward to seeing you and serving with you. If you are joining us for the first time all you need to bring is a bike, helmet, backpack, and a giving spirit. Try to remember to put some flashing lights on your bikes. You can purchase front and rear flashers at any bike shop or sporting goods store. These lights allow motorists to see us and it also allows our friends on the streets to see us and know we are near.

If you are unable to join us I ask that you pray for our mission. Pray that we are safe but pray that we find people who are in need of our offering. Pray that we make a difference in someone’s life and pray that we make an impact on our city. Thank you for all of the time, donations, and prayers you all give to this mission. It is a blessing to work with you sharing God’s love with God’s people.

Peace