Sept-DeCemBer 2010

Stacey’s adventures *in* Minnesota…

Hello Everyone!

AWARENESS OUTREACH: 48 DAYS of Awareness…

It’s about time that I catch up and let you know w hat has been happening up here…We have been keeping busy here sponsoring a 48 Days of Awareness Campaign to benefit a new transitional home for women wanting to change their lives around out of the sex-trafficking/prostitution industry. We have been connecting with several organizations to be able partner together to provide housing/programs for women wanting to make a break from the past. We have been having awareness outreaches locally around the city of Minneapolis at the local colleges, Vikings football games. Many are unaware of what is happening locally involving homeless youth, teen prostitution, and sex-trafficking(especially in the city of Minneapolis). During the campaign we set up a website: www.sourceannex.org posting various live interviews with survivors, outreach workers, church leaders…hearing stories of lives being changed, etc….and there is exciting news—We have successfully raised the $42,000 goal that we have been praying for/working towards to be able to partner in starting a women’s transitional home!!!

Art Auctions/Creative Fundraising Benefits…

I have been excited to be part of this adventure and walking alongside Him as he has called us….and He has provided in so many ways. My role has been helping with coordinating creative music/art Benefits to raise money for this campaign, joining in creative outreach/awareness opportunities around the city of Minneapolis as we have been working with various college ministry groups/volunteer groups in raising awareness/answering God’s call to being a friend and a voice to the marginalized.

Some Facts…

*Minnesota is #1 per capita of homeless youth in the USA

*10% of teens arrested for prostitution in Las Vegas are from Minnesota

* Approximately 30,000 USA children involved in prostitution

*Average age of entry into prostitution: 13

*Currently 83 victims of sex-trafficking on a local waiting list

for a recovery program that have no place

Prayer Requests…

*Safety in Travel as I am visiting South Carolina & Florida in December/Early January

*Ocala, Florida Outreach trip in January-We set up a prayer tent/feed the homeless (Travelers and Homeless gather in Florida to escape the Northern, Cold winter months.) God will prepare my heart and the hearts of those that we will be meeting…

*Rest & Rejuvenation during the Holidays…

*I have now been working with Source for 1 ½ years! Continued encouragement/financial support as I continue working here

**My ministry with Source is funded entirely with gifts from supporters like you!

Will you consider financially partnering with me by making a tax-deductible, year-end gift? Or by joining my monthly support team? I still need to raise about $250 a month.

<<<<<<<<<(Scroll up and to the left for mailing address/e-mail address info. for mailing sending support)

Thank you so much for your continued Prayers & Support!

staciphilgreen@yahoo.com* www.sourcemn.org -Stacey.

Overwhelmed by God...

A few days ago I ran into "Sarah" on my walk over to my house from work (which is about 1 block away from where I live)...Sarah is a friend of mine that I've probably known for about 1 1/2 years...I see her every once in awhile and she doesn't come around often, but I will see her around the Minneapolis area and she will show up every once in awhile to one of our "Open Hour Food shelf" days...Sarah has been living on the streets of Minneapolis since about her teens, surviving the cold winters, staking out her spots to sleep at night, and offering to clean certain places that she knows will give her $10 for her work...she says its so great because it gives her enough to get by, and purchase some food...and the occasional nail polish :) Sarah professes to loving God, but can't seem to accept the fact that she doesn't have to work and "do good" to keep her salvation...she recognizes the evil around her and she won't "mess with any of the alcohol, drugs, and other stuff that some of the mean men on the street are sucked into ..." She lives in constant fear of being tricked, used, being taken advantage of or having her sleeping/working space found out by others (homeless/non-homeless alike) in fear that she might lose the few things that she has, including a "safe" place to sleep at night. I have prayed with Sarah several times poking and prodding to see where her faith lies, and assuring her that if she has a personal relationship with God, that she doesn't have to fear that God is going to leave her. It is a done deal. The terrible part is eventually having to walk away, knowing that Sarah is going to be sleeping outside tonight, once again, and being left with myself and God, wrestling with the fact that Sarah is in this terrible cycle of the life of a vagabond, constantly living in fear of the "evil people around her"...the hard thing is that she doesn't want to ask for help and she keeps viewing herself as not deserving more than what she already has. She even quotes scripture to me, leaving me more encouraged/challenging me in my relationship with God. I don't know whether to be encouraged/discouraged when I walk away.. This is a good/difficult thing for me to wrestle this out with God, and still I am left with so many questions...God has placed me here, right now, to love these people and also to learn to receive love from Him myself. Please pray for Sarah. Please pray for me as I meet people just like Sarah.

June-AuGust (Summer Stories)

This summer we had a weekly Kid's Club where we provided creative activities, snacks, and outdoor activities----we were able to get to know a lot of our Somali and Hispanic families that live in our immediate neighborhood and to establish closer relationships with them. One particular family now continuously invites us into their home to join them for tea and authentically cooked Somalian meals. We have also been able to connect more with their niece (in her mid-twenties), seeing that she may be more open to having a relationship with God because she is less committed to some of the Muslim practices.

We also we were able to get to know some of the residents at our local Ebenezer Center for the Elderly. We made creative art projects with the residents weekly. Some of the residents don't have any family and they looked forward to us taking them out to the garden to create! For many of them, we were the only visitors that they received--It was so fun to be welcomed with so many smiles :)

This summer we established closer relationships in the immediate neighborhood and got to know entire families through getting to know the kids first (through our kid's club). Many of the kids brought their families back to our Art Fest and we have been praying for these Muslim families to come to know God as their personal Savior.

We had a wonderful group of interns for the summer, and we were sad to see them leave after the Summer that flew by so fast. I was able to get to know these girls and to co-lead a Bible study with them throughout the summer.

The Art Fest was another success this year! We tried out a few new things this year, giving away a semi-truck full of groceries throughout the afternoon as well as setting up a prayer garden with trees, rocks, and hanging prayer flags over the entire thing. Everyone, from kids to adults were invited to paint and write prayer flags to add to the prayer teepee and garden throughout the day.

Earlier this summer was probably my favorite event, hosting an art show with our gallery full of painted/fabric wallhangings by a local artist in town who is working on her Masters in Fine Arts. On the same night, we hosted an open mic and free meal that was open to the neighborhood and some of the friends that we met at St. Stephen's shelter and our local neighbors. It was a full house and one of the most eclectic groups of people in one space that I've ever seen. And when someone came to the door, asking if he could still come in because he didn't think he would be welcome that night because of his poor dress and that he understood if we didn't want him to come in (He'd never been to an art show before) , but then being able to say, “yes, you are welcome here, even tonight.” This is what I love so much, sharing God's love for people in practical ways of hospitality. I love it.

God's LoVE.

So as a group, some people from our church and our interns took a short retreat up to Wisconsin for some team-building time...It ended up being a time of rejuvenation and encouragement to me...so I wanted to share--Here's a note from my JouRnaL:

"I've experienced God this week in a way that I haven't ever before. I've experienced a renewed freedom and joy in Christ in my worship and in my rest. Lying in the field of flowers I am content. No direct revelation from God, no divine messages of direction--just plain reveling in God's love."

maY-jUNe 2010

Stacey’s * Still in* Minneapolis… May 2010
So it’s the beginning of the summer, which is an important month for me—I’ve been living in Minneapolis for a Year! It’s kind of a strange feeling that it’s already been that long. I feel like so much has happened and I’ve grown and learned so much. I am getting ready to embark on my 2nd year with Source! I have been learning & working more with coordinating artists in our gallery and hosting art openings. We recently held a show based on Archiving with students from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. It was such a great connection to make with creative emerging artists and for them to witness part of our Christian community. The week the artists were installing the show we were also hosting our week of prayer where we corporately gathered for morning, midday, and evening prayer. I was able to get to know one of the girls a little more than the others, and she even decided to show up for one of our community meals! I am praying that we’ll be able to keep in touch and that her heart will be softened more towards God. I realized during this week one of the reasons why I love working with Source is that we provide a place where different worlds can collide (in a good way when in most situations they would probably be worlds apart , i.e.-Christian and non-Christian artists working together to put together a gallery opening). I’ve also had an awesome opportunity while I’ve been here to grow in my confidence of leading and honing in on basic skills of working in large group settings. This is something that I had always shied away from in the past but I believe God has wanted to stretch me in this area. Now I can continue to use these skills while I’m here and I’ll also be able to use them wherever I go in the future. With the summer approaching, I have been interviewing some of the girls that will be coming to live with us during their summer internships! This means that I’ll be getting 4 new roommates for the summer. We will also be working together organizing our annual Art Fest in the neighborhood and creatively participating in different artistic city-wide festivals where we will be coming into contact with lots of different kinds of people. Please pray for the preparation of the summer and everything that comes with the busier summer months. We probably will also be coming into contact with more homeless because more homeless travel through the cities here in the warmer months. I am also writing this letter to ask for continued prayer and financial support throughout the next year. When I arrived in Minnesota I made a 2-year commitment with Source and I am now beginning my 2nd year. I will prayerfully evaluate what will happen after that 2 year mark, but for now I know that God has me here with Source! Also, with the amount of time that has passed, some of the giving that I have received in the past has now grown less. I am looking for a few new financial supporters to join the continued support that I already receive. I thank God for all of you who have been faithfully and consistently supporting me since I’ve been here—you have contributed so much in allowing me to be able to continue doing ministry Minneapolis for this past year—Thank you, thank you so much! stacey. staciphilgreen@yahoo.com* www.falloutminneapolis.com* www.sourcemn.org* www.staciphilgreen.blogspot.com

DiSgrAcE. GooD fRiDaY sERviCe.

Source has hosted a unique Good Friday service since 2003. Unique, creative, experimental collaboration are all words that is has lived up to. We have had 20-30 artists and performers involved each year that have assisted the goal of presenting to the observer and audience a glimpse of Christ and his embracing the cross a different look than they have experienced before whether someone was raised in the church or have little connection.

General Format: is having a visual (which are displayed in our gallery) and a performance vignette connected with our Stations of the cross (we have modified them inspired by the traditional stations of the cross).

StrIppEd & moCKed w/a CrOwn of THoRNs.

I created a cloth-like mobile representing Christ accepting the Cross (one of the stations of the Cross of Good Friday) , when HE was stripped of his clothing and mocked with robe of scarlet by the Roman soldiers. Matthew 27:27-31

StriPpEd & mOcked with a CrowN of THOrns.

MatthEw 27:27-31

stRippEd & MoCked wiTh a CroWn of ThoRns.

Lord, you were STRIPPED of the robes you wore. No robe was left now upon your shoulders, just a crown of MOCKERY on your head. You were still a KING. You loved and won REJECTION and pain, but still you LOVED. Matthew 27:27-31--see verse in photo above...

JaNuaRY- MaRch upDaTe... 2010

Well, I am happy to report to you all that the icy mounds of sNoW that have piled up since November have finally melted away this week! It's finally beginning to feel warm and I figured it was about time to update everyone with what has been happening and to share with you what God has been doing in my life since we last talked!

Prayer Week We hosted a pRayER wEeK at our prayer room in January open to the church and community and it was a great time to slow down and pray together for the new year and for the new people that will be coming alongside the ministry and the church. This also happened to be my biRthDaY month that I turned 24 (my friends actually gave me 2 separate surprise birthdays—God has blessed me with some great friends and family here:) The prayer week also inspired me to begin a new artistic project-creating wire-form mobiles, incorporating various found objects and themes-you can see the beginnings of one of them in the photos. I also walked on my first frozen lake in January! (snow picture)

Also to start off the new year, we celebrated my parents' re-marriage as a family! It was the first time since their re-marriage that we were all able to be together in the same place-- It was their official wedding celebration-reception and it was so nice to all be together to celebrate!

We most recently finished hosting a spRing bReaK missions trip for a couple of the Christian colleges in the area. Some of the schools typically offer spring break mission trips, and we were one of them this year! We hosted the students for the week and we also connected with other local shelters, food shelves, and other ministries. Not only did the students have opportunities to serve with us at Source, but they were also able to see what other ministries in the area were doing as well. We also had teaching times about reaching out to the lost and the poor and were able to process and pray through some of the stuff that God was stirring in their hearts while they were with us.

To finish off the week, we hosted a bEneFiT for Haiti—it was a creative night that involved a silent aRT aUCtiOn, live MuSiC, and serving authentic Haitian food—It was such a great night to watch come together and the greatest part was co-hosting the night with one of the artists (Matt) from the Fallout who does not know God, but it was great to walk alongside him and support him in sponsoring the idea he had to host this Haiti Benefit. The part I love about working with Source is seeing non-Christians, Christians and all kinds of different people come together in a welcoming environment where God is presented in a non-condemning way—basically just seeing all kinds of people coming into contact with God that would never otherwise step foot inside of a church. It also blessed me to be able to visit one of the shelters, bringing warm food, conversation, and art, but in the process was able to pRaY with a woman named JeNniFeR who is mending her relationship with her son. The same week I also met a young artist at a local free meal and just heard her story about moving to a new city with no money and trying to make it as an artist and trying to make it on her own. It is people like this that I've been praying for God to introduce me to, to pray for and get to know.
Disgrace...Last but not least, you can be praying for our annual Good Friday service that we host—It's a creative/interactive night where we represent the different stations of the cross that lead into the celebration of Easter and Jesus raising from the dead. We have been asking for creative pieces to be filmed, performed, or donated to be included in the night. This usually brings in people from all over-churches, students, and different people we have met on the streets.

Prayer Requests:
Summer Activities & Interns that God is bringing to Source
Disgrace (Our creative/interactive Good Friday Service)
Leadership/speaking-that I will continue to grow in this
Women (artists, roommates, homeless) I can encourage in their walk w/God.
Continued direction while in Minnesota (1 year mark in May/finances are a little low)- I'm here for another year!


***Feel free to check out what's happening @ www.sourcemn.org***

PrAyER WeeK 1/26-1/30

We're Having a PRAYER WEEK starting 1/26-1/30...Keep us in your prayers---we will have our building available to church members and to the general public during the day---we are preparing for the new season we have ahead of us and for what Source is going to look like in the next months that will begin to keep us busy: new interns, new schedule...etc. Pray that we will be listening to the direction God wants us to be in. Also, I'm excited to help set up prayer stations in our prayer room, one of which I'm constructing a frame for a hanging mobile to hang miniature art pieces that represent people's prayers throughout the week...An ARtiSTiC pROJEcT I'm looking forward to...I will post pictures soon!

souTh CaRoLina, FLoRiDa, Urbana SuCcEss!

New PHoTOs on FacEbOOk! (Minneapolis Group and Homepage)

My trip to South Carolina, Florida, and Urbana 2009 were a success...my plane rides ran fairly smoothly--I was able to spend time with friends, brother & sister-in-law, and my parents and attend the Urbana Missions conference for the first time! Thank you to everyone who drove me around while i didn't have a car:) Now I'm back in MinneapoLis, MN in the -10' weather...and shoveling snow:/ THanks everyone for a wonderful trip!

ChRisTmaS in MinNeApOLis!

***ChRiStmAS in MinNEaPoLis!*** 2009
mErRy chRiStmaS!!! and Thank you for all of your prayers and encouragement during my time here in Minneapolis! Surprising, but it's actually not snowing up here yet...or at least it's not sticking yet...we've had one of Minnesota's warmest Novembers...but it has been getting chilly...the snow will be coming soon and won't disappear until March.

I'm coming up on my eighth month in Minneapolis, and you all have made it possible for me to be here. I've been amazed at how God has provided financially for me to be here and I believe I am in the place where He wants me to be. As I stated in my last letter, these last few months have been filled with lots of prayer, outreach in our community, and my days have consisted of keeping our community meals organized and coordinating our food donations that we receive. I've also been spending time meeting with and mentoring some of the girls living here. As 2009 comes to a close, some of our staff, interns and members of the house are transitioning onto other things. This means that we may have some new girls moving into our discipleship home and we'll be welcoming in new interns starting at the beginning of the new year. With this also comes a transition of not knowing all of the details of the upcoming months and seeing all of our new interns' gifts and the roles they will be playing. Also, we'll be shorter on staff, our friends Tim and Dana just had their first little boy right before Thanksgiving! (I spent Thanksgiving with Tim and Dana's family and friends...my first Thanksgiving away from family). With this time I will be focusing more on growing in my leadership within the house, becoming a big sister to some of the girls and mentoring through prayer and Bible Studies. I'll also be using my organizational skills to help with some administrative tasks and I'm also looking into volunteering at a local art gallery to build more relationships in the community-to incorporate more creative events at our Fallout urban art center. (and to get inspired!)
ChRisTmAS...I will also be traveling home to South Carolina for two weddings on my way to Ft. Myers, Florida where I'll spend Christmas with my parents. On my way back to Minneapolis I'll be staying in St. Louis, MO for the Urbana Conference with Source. So I have a busy Christmas break coming, but I don't mind :) I'm excited to be able to visit family and friends and I look forward to visiting some of you reading this letter! PleASe pRaY... for me during my time returning back to Minneapolis, just getting used to a new group of people to work with and continuing relationships with friends that are also staying. We will be starting up a new Bible Study in the new year.
Our Source BaNQuET... November 21st was an encouraging time with local supporters, volunteers, and friends. We had fun sharing what God has been doing in Source this year while running a silent art auction as well ( I sold two of my pieces)! It was an interactive banquet at a local church with multiple stations set up: outreach, our fallout arts initiative, transitional homes, and national outreach. Everyone could visit the silent auction tables and hear a couple of presentations of their choice throughout the evening. I was able to speak about our creative drum & easel outreach art nights we do at local shelters as one of the stations for the evening. Overall, it was an encouraging night as we all got together!