What's Up at Seeds of Grace

A lot of exciting things are happening at Seeds of Grace these days! We are continuing to find new ways to help give clients a hand up, a renewed independence and self reliance through our Pay-It-Forward distribution days and our Market Mentorship Project 2017*.

The following two individuals are playing a big role in helping Seeds of Grace fulfill it's mission!

Tiffani Mondares-Riggs continues to excel as our Lead Resource Consultant and plays a large leadership role in our Market Mentorship Project. Tiffani has also helped design and implement our newest personal advancement and “Pay It Forward” action plan agreement used by SOG clients with resource needs. This volunteer partnership provides opportunities for clients to “pay it forward” using a hands-on approach, aligning with our philosophy that “everyone has something to bring to The (SOG Resource) Exchange.” (Prov 14:23 NLT)

Michelle (Turner) Daniels is back and taking an active role as our SOG Distribution Manager. From reorganizing, implementing specific tasks and projects, ordering, cleaning and encouraging our volunteers and clients, she is up for the challenge!

We’re excited to see what God is going to do through AC3’s compassion programs this ministry year! Twila Crain sog@ac3.org  360-659-7335 ext. 202.

*MMP will be at the Marysville Farmers Market opening day Saturday 6/24.

SOG Food and Resource Distribution Days: 

WED. 2-3pm (senior/disabled) and SAT. 9-10am  (4th SAT. closed)

The Farm

By Guest Blogger: Jan Hayes

This season 2015 was the most challenging for me since we started in 2009. We made some huge changes in the spring by adding additional water lines so we could setup a new drip system through out the entire garden-this was a huge undertaking. Then we decided to change row directions, adopt a no tillprocess, and begin our first year using a more sustainable farming practice, Permaculture,(a methodpracticed to grow food). And in my mind is simply the Windows 10version of my generations “Hippie Lasagna gardening method”. So, yeajust a few changes!

When you add all that up and then throw in a really weird weather pattern of dry and warmer air, weed seed that never went dormant we have been up to our necks trying to keep up. 

A few workers really put out some hard time doing some really hard work utilizing the free wood chips from the county and a Tree Service friend of mine. We used these chips as mulch in the “Walking Rows” along with some donated cardboard that we cut into strips the width of the row then piled the chips on top of that. This was to help control weeds, and retain moisture. These components break down over time and will help build a healthy soil.  

Crops finally started growing better, but some food struggle or failed, due to the drought conditions mainly.  We harvested early in season lots of Zucchini, Crookneck squash, lettuce, and kale. Spinach came and went to seed very early. In the 40+ years I have lived here I had never pulledfrom all my knowledge of growing food in Southern California, but now I was faced with trying to blend two different ways into one. Way weird to mix the two methods for sure.

Good things that were cultivated were life long friendships, new relationships with our Youth that volunteer at Seeds of Grace Resource Centers Food Bank. A new program launched from the Seeds Resource Center, the Mentorship Program. This program enabled recipients of the Food Bank to learn how to setup a business plan and run it, and partner with First Fruits by harvesting some of the food grown there and selling it by becoming a vendor at the new Marysville Farmers Market. This helped the mentors realize what it takes to start and run a business, and receive training in hopes of building a stepping stone to improve these participants chance of becoming a contributor into society again. And also participate in the New Farmers Market - a win-win. 

First Fruits Co-0p members harvested food for them selves and also purchased other food and commodities at the new Farmers Market, so we feel we ended this year on a good note.

I’m excited for the 2016 growing season, for the Co-Op members are adopting some new ideas to improve life on the farm. Stay tuned. 

See you all around AC3.

AC3 VB45 The P's

Video Blog 45 comes to your from Seeds this week as Dan and Rick talk about the P's. Enjoy!

Don't Ask, Just Follow

Listening when it doesn't make sense. 

So there I was, managing this coffee stand at the church. Handling the tracking of money and helping with every aspect of the operation. For starters, I don't think that I should even be my own bookkeeper, it's certainly not in me to be a diligent tracker of money for an entity outside of myself. However, there I was, because God needed me to be involved. The coffee stand needed change, Creek Espresso needed management and needed good stewardship. I didn't see myself fit for the job, but God did, so I listened.

I did the best I could and prayed like crazy for God to show me the more permanent answer as to who belonged managing Creek Espresso, it certainly didn't feel like it was me. Since I joined the BAM board (Business As Mission) earlier this year, I felt drawn to this coffee stand. God was pulling me towards it to seemingly set the path for the future, much like he pulled me in to start this blog late last year. As with most things God pulls me to, there was enemy opposition. It was not an easy road but with the help of the BAM board, our volunteers and a HUGE help by our new Creek Espresso Management, Stephanie Moddison, the future is looking bright for Creek Espresso and it's efforts to raise funds for The AC3 Community Center.

The power of prayer

Like I said, the prayers were being sent up in great numbers lately about finding a solution to the problem that I was facing. I needed to step down from this role in the coffee stand, but I needed God to show me the way as surely all of this hard work was for progress in Jesus' name. 

So there I am, praying like crazy. One night, I had a good long talk about it with Bet (aka the awesomest wife in recorded history), told her I was praying about it and asked her to as well. That night before I went to bed I prayed that I'd find balance, that even if I was supposed to manage this coffee stand that I could fit it in where it needed to be fit in as I run a real estate business that supports my family that is clearly #1 on the work priority list. 

How God works in my life.

Well, in the short years I've been a real follower of Jesus, I've learned that The Holy Spirit seriously lacks subtleties when showing me the path that needs to be taken. 

So I'm moping around the house, the very next day after talking to Bet about this coffee stand/time constraint problem and Bet says, "hey honey, I found this in the bag of stuff taken out of your old car, do you want it?"

This is a press pass, made for me by one Nate Crain, an idea straight from God, filtered through Dan Hazen and myself. It was the vision to start this very blog that caused me to take up my passion for writing again, a vision that was seemingly taken from me when business picked up and the coffee stand among other things took all of my time.

At first I didn't think much of her finding the press pass and handing it to me. Then I checked my email. Within an hour of Bet handing me my press pass, I get an email from Creek Espresso's saving grace, Stephanie Moddison. Stephanie and I had been working together to manage Creek Espresso for several months. There's no way that it would be what it is today without her. The email was about how God was putting it on her heart to take over full management of Creek Espresso. How her little guy was just getting old enough where she thought she could take this all on and that her processes for the stand were ready to be in full swing. 

So, I took a step back. Thanked God for working in my life and told Him that I'm listening and that I'm His humble servant and will press forward as he's called me to do. 

Listening forward

So, I listened. Here I am, writing on the blog. I know not where I'll be led in this adventure but I know I'll be led somewhere He wants me to be which makes my heart happier than I could have ever imagined. I'm done asking questions about where He leads me, it's time to just follow because I always end up in the right place at the right time. 

I also know, AC3, that your espresso stand, Creek Espresso is in capable, amazing, loving and caring hands for the foreseeable future in Stephanie Moddison. I will be doing all that I can to support her as she takes on this challenge that God has laid on her plate. So stop in for some java this weekend at church and support the community center at the same time. 

-Jared Galde

AC3 VB27 Down On The Farm

This weeks video blog comes to you from "The Farm" First Fruits. If you like what you see and would like to become a member of First Fruits visit this link http://ac3.org/content/First_Fruits_Co-op for more info. Enjoy! :)

90 Days and Counting

If you had told me 90 days ago, that Seeds of Grace would be where it is today, I wouldn't have believed it. Why would God invite me, a 5' 1", simple-thinking woman, wife, mother and grandma of three, to play an active role in moving SOG in a new direction? What could I possibly do to help make real life change in how we Reach Out, serve and encourage individuals in our local community?

I struggled quietly with this question over several weeks. But finally, in God's timing, I decided to just be obedient to His calling and let Him worry about the results. Each day I do my best to step out in faith and into new territory. And as usual, I can see God at work in and around SOG and AC3.

The progress and acceptance of our new two-way giving model has been beyond any expectations I may have had. But God knew. He always does.

Has the first 90 days in this change process been without any push back? As a matter of fact, no. Several weeks ago we received a four page anonymous and critical letter of the changes we have made. Through it's verbiage, it appears this person may be a sister in Christ. Oh how I would love to meet and share with her just a few of the God sightings we have seen so far!

I would love to tell her about the tall, dark and confident man who shook my hand firmly and proudly, as he said 'thank you' for letting him give back in the way of serving his new and fellow SOG clients.

Or the story of a women who came in specifically to 'pay it forward' at SOG. She tells me her story. Her husband had been pretty sick and they have incurred a $10,000 hospital bill. She was so thankful for the food they will receive that day from SOG and was so appreciative because she can now use her grocery money to put toward their medical bill. She gave me a hug that was so sincere and full of love that I will remember her hug as if it was the very arms of God around me that day.

It has been such an encouragement to watch SOG volunteers implement new ways of doing things on Resource Exchange days. And I couldn't be any more excited about our Resource Consultants and SOG board members who have met with numerous new clients and are helping them with a variety of life needs. Several of our new clients even want to do life in relationship with us. How cool is that?  To see God at work in our SOG team and the new relationships being built is quite humbling and pretty darn awesome!

I can't wait to see what God is going to do in the next 90 days at SOG and through AC3. After all, it is He who gives us hope and allows us to relax and grow in the midst of changes and challenges.

Twila

Compassion books I have been inspired by:
The Great Omission By Steve Saint
Barefoot Church By Brandon Hatmaker  
Interrupted By Jen Hatmaker 
Toxic Charity  By Robert Lupton
When Helping Hurts By Steven Corbett

Seeds of Grace is looking for a few more Resource Consultants. These volunteer hours are flexible and fun. Contact Twila at 360-659-7335 EXT. 202 or email sog@ac3.org to get plugged in!

“Use me, God. Show me how to take who I am, who I want to be, and what I can do, and use it for a purpose greater than myself.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.  

AC3 does not necessarily endorse the above books, authors or their advertisers. 

Moving Forward: One-Way Giving to Two-Way Giving

Seeds of Grace, a compassion ministry of AC3 is changing! We will be inviting SOG clients to partner with us in our new two-way Resource Exchange option. Why? Because we believe that two-way giving, when done right, is more compassionate and healthier for all parties involved; those receiving resources and for those giving them.

Q: What’s the difference between one-way giving and two-way giving?

A: Typically, one-way giving is when someone receives something from someone else with no questions asked. Two-way giving requires a partnership of sorts, where clients and volunteers opt-in and share resources for the mutual, social and economic benefit of one another. This cooperative effort becomes a legitimate ‘give and take’ relationship. We still offer limited and one-way giving when temporary relief efforts are deemed helpful or necessary.

Q: What does this mean for me on Seeds of Grace distribution days?

A: We will be inviting SOG clients to participate in our new two-way exchange option. This plan includes wearing a name tag on ‘Exchange’ days and on a client's 5th visit, individuals will be asked and invited to:

❶ Join us at a ‘Pay It Forward’ event where a variety of Resource Exchange tasks will be completed in a team environment.

OR

❷ Sign up to chat with a Resource Exchange Consultant.

We believe everyone has been uniquely created with different passions, strengths, gifts and talents that can be shared with those around them. YOU have God-given abilities that can be used to help improve your own life's situation AND in the lives of those around you. Ask us how you can partner with us in this life-changing endeavor today!

“Regardless of ones life's circumstances,
everyone has something to bring to the Exchange.”