"Blessing Others", also known as the "90 Days of Blessings" are based on Acts 2:44-47, when all the believers met together for prayer and praise and shared everything they had with those in need. We want to encourage all believers to taste the joy of serving and caring for those in need by volunteering their time, talent and treasure in ways that will benefit our Region.

From the freewill offering received on May 23rd, donations were made to two local ministries focusing on helping the homeless and refugees, specifically St. Patrick Center and Oasis International Ministries-St. Louis.

The mission of St. Patrick Center and similar ministries are to provide opportunities for self-sufficiency and dignity to persons who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Individuals achieve permanent positive changes in their lives through affordable housing, and family support programs.

St. Patrick Center CEO Dan Buck says: "We are placing clients into safe, dignified housing first, and then wrapping supportive services around them to help lead them to recovery and self-sufficiency. Volunteer opportunities are available in 22 support program areas that include addressing sound mental health, employment, financial stability." Visit www.stpatrickcenter.org for more information, and contact St. Patrick Center with your volunteer interest at 314-880-5397.

The mission of Oasis International Ministries is to serve and assist refugees who have relocated to St. Louis from refugee camps and war torn countries around the world. They are all legal aliens brought here through the U.S. Government, which provides the first three months of rent and utilities. Arriving with fears, grief and broken hearts, they need friends to meet to help them learn English, find a job, arrange transportation and learn the customs our country. Volunteers at Oasis help with transportation, teaching English and share the love of Jesus by becoming a friend.

Oasis Director Mark Akers says St. Louis is first in the U.S. for the degree of diversity of refugee people being received and second in the nation for the density of new arrivals. Sadly, fewer than 10% of these refugees find an American friend in the first year they arrive. Visit www.oasisinternational.info for more information and contact Oasis International Ministries by calling 314-353-3800 or e-mail at oasisinternational@sbcglobal.net.

An exciting new volunteer opportunity this year is to join the City of East St. Louis Clean Up and Beautification Program initiated by East St. Louis Mayor Alvin L. Parks, Jr. Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate in this wonderful way to express the love of our Lord Jesus. On Saturday mornings from 7 am to noon throughout the summer, volunteers are invited to help "take out the trash both physically and spiritually". Bring gloves, rakes, and even a shovel to gather up the trash. For more information, please contact Brenda Crisp at 618-960-7036 or at unipres@sbcglobal.net

Let's obey our Lord's command to love our neighbors and join a St. Patrick Center program, an Oasis International volunteer opportunity and/or the East St. Louis Clean Up program.