The Executive Pastor’s Report
Rev. Vernon R. Graham
“And
God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always
having all sufficiency in everything you may have an abundance
for every good deed; as it is written, ‘He scattered abroad, he
gave to the poor, His righteousness endures forever.’ Now He
who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply
and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of
your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all
liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to
God.” II Corinthians 9:
8-11
The year, 2007, was a year that I will always remember. It was a time or season for giving praise and thanks to God for the many blessings that He has given to Associated Churches, my family, and to me. I feel blessed to have been called by God to serve as the Executive Pastor of Associated Churches for the past 20 years. I will always remember when God called me to replace a great man, a mentor, and a powerful Christian brother, Rev. Mel Phillips. He had served for 15 years as the Executive Minister of Associated Churches. I will always remember him for his inviting me to a meeting at Lutheran Social Service in the summer of 1979. As the result of the meeting the Mayor called to help the homeless of our community, the Associated Churches Food Bank System was born out of the side door of Grace Lutheran Church, where I served as pastor for 12 1/2 years. From that humble beginning, Rev. Mel Phillips, Rev. Bill Moody, Ed Elkins, and myself, the Associated Churches Food Bank system began. There were eight food bank sites in 1979 and today there are 27 sites, located in every small town and large neighborhood in Fort Wayne and Allen County.
God truly has multiplied the seed and the bread in allowing us to feed his children that are hungry in the Fort Wayne and Allen County community. The number of individuals served in 1979 was 2,900 individuals, a total of 43,500 balanced meals or 82,650 pounds of food at No charge to those with hunger needs. In 2007 a total of 1,230,000 balanced meals or 2,337,000 pounds of food were collected and distributed to 82,000 of the unemployed, working poor, and the historic poor of our community. Our 124 member Christian congregations are responsible for feeding the poor and providing the food and money to purchase food at wholesale prices. It allows us together to be servants of God and to be a blessing to “…the least of these...”, as our Lord inspired His Church to serve.
For nearly 30 years we have had a variety of old warehouses and office building sites in order to serve God’s people and to work together as the Kingdom of God. In 2005 the Associated Churches Board of Directors came together to put forward the project to build a new Associated Churches Office Building and Food Bank Warehouse. The architect was chosen, the designs were drawn up, the builders were selected, the funds were given or pledged, and then in May, 2007 the new buildings were dedicated to the Gory of God. What a tremendous blessing to Associated Churches, the poor, and to the Lord’s Church. Thanks be to God!
I have also been thankful to God for the healing that he has brought to our daughter, Kristina, this past year. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy in 2006. The Lord working through surgeons, hospitals, doctors, and nurses brought healing to her body and to the life of her family. I was thankful to God for his touching my daughter and his blessings that he had given to Ellen and I.
In August, I had a stroke and was disabled for a short period of time. I had to depend on a cane and felt like I would never be whole again. Yet, today seven months later, I thank God for his healing hand that he touched me and made me whole. I am so thankful to Ellen, Pastor Terry, and the staff for continuing the work of the Lord while I was ill and rehabilitating. I am thankful to God for His hand of healing that was extended to the poor, to my daughter, and to me in 2007.
Finally, in June of 2007, I was awarded the Maxine Rippe Award through the Lutheran Foundation. The award brought with it a financial gift that Ellen and I used to develop the 5th major ministry of Associated Churches, entitled “Necessities Bag.” It is a ministry that began in Connecticut and the purpose is to help women who have breast cancer and are facing mastectomies. What began with Parkview and Lutheran Hospitals in Fort Wayne has now expanded to cover surgeons and hospitals in nine counties. The price of each bag it $50. Thus far, we have given 137 Necessities Bags to those women who are facing surgery. It is our hope to increase this program to help hundreds of women in 2008. Again, we are thankful to the churches of our community for helping to make this gospel ministry possible.
This has been one of the most challenging years of our 20 years of service to God through Associated Churches. Yet, the experiences that I have described above has shown me again and again of the Love of God for me and for all of us together in Jesus name. May the Name of the Lord God be Always Praised!
In Christ’s Service
Vernon R. Graham
Associated Churches