Confirmation Images

Our confirmation kids made a mirror craft to remember the promise God makes to them in baptism, “You are my child, my beloved, and with you I am well pleased.”

Fun pictures from the 6th grade retreat!

Thanks for backpacks!

Thank you to all who helped with this month’s community meal and backpack giveback! It was wonderful to be able to help so many families in our community!

 

 

Leigh Loftus faith story

What is your background of church? Where did you grow up? Did you go to church? What was the experience like for you?

I grew up in Granite City, IL. I attended church off-and-on, very minimally, and mostly with friends until I was about 13. My family was not religious at all, and one Thursday evening my mom picked up my best friend and me up from youth group and told me on the drive to my friend’s house (with that friend still in the car) that my dad wanted a divorce. I didn’t blame God, or church, but at that time, I didn’t really have a strong faith, and didn’t really see the point of attending worship, so I stopped.

Can you identify different stages in the growth of your faith? What are they?

At the age of 21, I was introduced to the world of personal development. Another female businesswoman I’d photographed casually mentioned that she had a life coach. I was beyond intrigued! I dipped my toe in slowly, and as I unfolded more of this “personal development stuff,” my experience of life increased. However, it was VERY expensive, especially for an entrepreneurial photographer, so, due to cost, I’d put it off and forego delving in. Every year or so I’d find myself longing for something more out of life, hoping and praying (without yet visiting church) that something could finally work out, that I could figure out a way, in my little photography business to make enough to live beyond month-to-month, or sometimes week-to-week. I’d built a food-and-beverage photography company, and worked with some of the top brands in the world, but I still hadn’t cracked the code to making a sustainable living, and I was exhausted and frankly, wanted to quit.

Was there a time you strayed away from God or the church? Why? What happened? How did you get back?

This cycle repeated from 2009-2017. In 2017, I discovered a book called The Game of Life and How to Play It, by Florence Shovel Shin. It became my bible. For some reason, when I read it, (which was multiple times a week) something inside me changed. I had hope. I was able to believe in the prayers I put out to the universe, but I still didn’t know how I felt about “God.”

The very first time I attended Mount Calvary, Pastor Dave’s sermon addressed equality for all people: White, black, brown, transgender, gay, etc. and the people in the congregation were of every age. This may sound simple, but the sermon was so powerful and so strong that to me, it showed amazing leadership in standing for love in all situations, and that can be a very difficult message to deliver, especially across generations.

When did you know that Mount Calvary would be
your home?

I’m still fairly new to my faith journey and I definitely came back to God and the church in an interesting way but I can say this, the more I practice having faith and turning over my problems to God and really truly letting them go, I experience outcomes and opportunities that I couldn’t have ever even imagined.

I’m truly grateful to have found Mount Calvary and I’m excited to continue to grow with the community!

FMF – We’ve finished day 2

We’ve finished day 2 of our Families Moving Forward hosting week. 
The families are so nice and a joy to be with. 
Our volunteer team is absolutely elite!
Please pray for the families and our volunteers.

Families Moving Forward

Yesterday Mount Calvary began our hosting week for Families Moving Forward. As usual, our quilters and FMF volunteers did a great job of decorating the rooms, providing each guest with a beautiful quilt and gifts selected especially for them.

More from Malawi!

 MORE FROM HEIDI IN MALAWI…

“Yesterday I visited one of the farms and children’s home. Today I’ll be working in the Widow’s Program and then tagging along with a medical team that is here to do physicals for children in a nearby village. 

Next week I believe it’s been arranged for me to have to a cultural immersion with a local family. Exciting! Can’t wait to share this with you all at Mount Calvary! 

Thank you and blessings from Africa!

Heidi

 

Video from Heidi Busch in Malawi

Heidi’s Visit to Malawi with Children of the Nations

MHMM Board and Friends,

I am so excited to share this story from my day here in Malawi. I hope it fills you with as much hope and happiness as I experienced.

This afternoon I had the opportunity to attend a welcome ceremony for a new team that arrived here to work with Children of the Nations (COTN). The ceremony took place in the town of Mtzlissa where COTN has their feeding program (to which we have contributed meals).  

Close to 200 of the 545 children cared for by COTN in that village attended the ceremony. Some older children sang and danced. We were welcomed with open arms. After the ceremony, as we were greeting the children and heading toward the bus, I happened to look up and see a boy holding a box from MHMM! I think I startled him with my enthusiasm about it because he had no idea why I was so excited about his cardboard box (I think he was afraid I wanted to have it), but a woman who spoke English came up to translate.

When she understood who I was, she told me the following:

Your food is blessing these children.  You see those boys dancing?  They dance because you feed them. You are doing the Lord’s work.”

Wow.  When I came to Malawi, I was not certain that our meals were still being fed here at this location, but check out the pictures below! Recognize that date? Packathon 2018 meals are currently being served in Mtzlissa, Malawi!  

Tomorrow I will visit the village again during the feeding program time and share more about how that works, but for now, I just wanted to give you a glimpse into the lives of those you are impacting with your generous commitment of time and resources. Thank you, thank you! to each of you for all of your continued efforts on behalf of beautiful children like these.

Zikomo kwambiri! Thank you very much!

Blessings from Malawi,

Heidi