Rich Brown: Web site offers ‘Testimonies from the Garden’

When you take a glimpse of a typical day at Watered Gardens, you know why this unique nondenominational Joplin ministry has been so successful over the past nine years ... and why it is so deserving of support.

You need only take heed of people’s testimonies (which can be found at www.wateredgardens.org) to understand how far-reaching and effective this ministry founded by James and Marsha Whitford has been.

The introduction to” Testimonies from the Garden” on the Web site is as follows: “In John 10, Jesus tells us that his works testify of who he is! For the last few years we’ve been documenting the great works of Jesus Christ in people’s lives.”

The following is one of many testimonies that help you realize how Watered Gardens has been fulfilling its stated vision of closing the gap between the individual and the community, building a bridge between need and blessing and repairing the breach between man and God.

“Here’s a typical day. Last Tuesday a single mom with her two children, fleeing abuse, came for an appointment. They needed furniture and had only the clothes on their backs. That same day, Cheryl came in. She has no car and was seeking help to move her belongings to a new apartment. Then Clyde called. He is struggling with illness and addiction and simply asked for prayer. It’s only a glimpse of a day at the Garden and if time allowed we could share with you countless more needs like these. And behind each is a person who needs the love of Jesus.”

It is just that kind of insight into the day-to-day operation of the ministry that confirms the fact that the Whitfords and Watered Gardens are keeping up with their mission, which is “to reflect God’s love by obeying Jesus Christ’s command to fervently love one another from the heart and to demonstrate his grace by comforting those in need.”

Testimonies alone may be enough to spur you on to helping out the ministry. If that’s so, you may want to take part in a fund-raiser scheduled Friday at the Butcher’s Block Banquet Center. Doors open at 6 p.m. with dinner to be held an hour later. A silent auction will be held and music will be provided by Phil Mehrens and Canaan Bound. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at Watered Gardens, 531 Kentucky Ave., or For All Bible at Northpark Mall. If you need more information, call 623-6030.

Christians provided a great deal of support in 2008, according to James Whitford. More than 1,400 people were provided with food from the Watered Gardens pantry. More than 600 pieces of furniture and appliances were delivered to families in need. More than 60 service needs, such as home repair, lawn care and moving, were provided. Hygiene kits and showers were made available to the homeless.

“Together, more than 10,000 needs were met through the outreach effort last year,” Whitford said. “New growth at the Garden over the last year has included the development of a community garden and a rest area as well as a handful of new churches that share the responsibility of purchasing, preparing and serving breakfast every Sunday morning.”

The name for the ministry comes from Isaiah 58: “Is this not the fast I chose ... To divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you seed the naked to cover them ... and you will be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.”

The Joplin ministry began from within homes as a simple neighborhood outreach and, according to the Web site, is the result of a vision from God planted in the hearts of Christians.

“It’s been a blessing to be a part of a ministry that shows the unconditional love and compassion of God,” Whitford said. “People who find themselves in need often have issues that are deeper than what we see on the outside. It’s more than the need for a furniture or appliance piece or even a hot meal or something else.

“Often there is an underlying heartbreak issue, a history of abuse, an addiction that has led to breakdown or maybe a breakdown that led to addiction. If we don’t address these issues while we meet physical needs, we’ll only perpetuate a cyclic pattern of poverty.”

Address correspondence to Rich Brown, c/o The Joplin Globe, P.O. Box 7, Joplin, Mo. 64802.

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