November 2013
H OPE F OR T HE F UTURE M INISTRIES
Will You Help Us Fill These Bags?
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Quote Of The Month
Will You Help Fill These Bags?
1
Coats, Blankets & Food!
Partner Pledge/Website & PayPal
Donation
2
The Most Wonderful Time of The
Year!
3
A Word From The Pastor’s
Desk
4
Photographer & Editor :
Rev. Diane Dunne
Assistant Editors:
Rev. Deborah Mitchell
Deanna DiMonda-Miceli
Karen Gill
Article Interviews & Story:
Deanna DiMonda-Miceli
Administrators:
Gloria Graziano
Josephine Winkle
Not what we
say about our
blessings, but
how we use
them, is the
true measure of
our
thanksgiving.
~W.T. Purkiser~
Is it that time again? Yes, time
to focus on the ‘making spirits
bright’. At HFTF we endeavor to
bring spiritual light and love to
all we serve at Christmas time.
Though we serve all year long
ministering to the needs of the
poor and homeless and those
on limited incomes, during this
Holiday season we work hard at
not letting the real meaning of
the season be forgotten.
We are asking our supporters
to help us put the smiles on
those less fortunate... from
young children, to single Mom’s,
to Senior Citizens. Christmas
Parties are being planned for
both NYC and Long Island areas
and we in need of toys, gifts,
and help of all kinds. For many
children this is the only way
they will receive a present. Will
you help us make memories
for those to whom we minister?
Ω
Page 2
Volume 26
And let the
peace of Christ
rule in your
hearts, to
which indeed
you were called
in one body;
and be
thankful.
Colossians 3:15
Urgent Need
For
Help
&
Volunteer Drivers
Monday, Wednesday
&
Saturday
Service/Outreaches
Situation is urgent!
631-752-5771
Coats, Blankets & Food!
We started out having a mild fall… but the
weather has changed quickly, hasn't it? We are
in desperate need of coats, blankets, as well as
food supplies. Perhaps you could organize a
drive for these items to bless those having to
face the bitter cold. To be able to hand a warm
coat to the Senior without heat in the apartment, the mother of a small child with a compromised immune system, or a warm blanket to
the homeless man on the park bench is blessing beyond description. You could be a part of
that blessing. Please contact HFTF at our number listed below for more details.
(631-752-5771)
▼Irene, smiling away, and very happy
with her new coat!
▼Coats Distributed at HFTF
warehouse during Farmingdale Food Pantry.
Make Your Donation At Our
Website
www.hopeforthefuture.com
No Stamps …
No Checks…
It's Fast…It’s Easy…

Click on link for financial support

Click on “make a donation” at the
bottom of page.
You don’t have to be a member of PayPal to
donate.
OUR MINISTRY RELIES ON CONTRIBUTIONS
FROM PEOPLE LIKE YOU
PLEASE GIVE WHAT YOU CAN...IN JESUS NAME...THANK YOU!
Enclosed, please find my contribution in the amount of: (please check one)
□ $25.00 □ $50.00 □ $75.00 □ $100.00 □ $_________ Other Amount
Name:___________________________________________________________________
Street Address:____________________________________________________________
City:__________________________________ State:____________ Zip:______________
Email Address:_____________________________________________________________
Mail to: HOPE FOR THE FUTURE MINISTRIES , 131 VERDI STREET, FARMINGDALE, NY 11735
Thank you and May the Lord bless you!
Issue 6
The Most Wonderful
Time Of The Year!
Hope For The Future Ministries will be
taking God’s love to thousands of New York’s
poor & homeless again this year. Your gift of
$30.00 will bless someone in need…
$120.00 will bless an entire family.
Won’t you make this Christmas special for
others who cannot help themselves?
For more information:
Phone
(631) 752-5771
Fax (631) 752- 3814
www.hopeforthefuture.com
You don’t have to
be a member of
Paypal to make a
donation.
Enclosed is my Christmas Gift:
___$30.00 One Person ___$60.00 Two People
___$90.00 Three People ___$120.00 Family
_______ Other Amount
Name:_________________________________
Address:_______________________________
City:________________ST______Zip_______
Please Mail Your Gifts To:
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE MINISTRIES
131 VERDI ST., FARMINGDALE, NY 11735
N o v em b er 201 3
131 Verdi Street
Farmingdale, NY 11735
Phone: 631-752-5771
Fax: 631-752-3814
Email: [email protected]
NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
US POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 44
FARMINGDALE, NY 11735
We’re on the Web!
www.hopeforthefuture.com
“For I know the
plans that I
have for
you...plans to
give you a hope
and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
A Word From The Pastor’s Desk
Dear Friends,
I remember my years of living in Manhattan. I loved the museums and would visit them quite frequently. The first black artist to obtain fame in this last century was Henry Ossawa Tanner (18591937). One of his most popular paintings is titled The Thankful Poor. It is a painting featuring a
father with his little son as they are seated at a table to eat a meal. No fancy turkey. No dressing.
No cranberry sauce or sweet potatoes. No trimmin’s or fixin’s. No pie. Just one tiny dish of food for
both to share. Yet, their heads are bowed in prayer to give thanks to God for what little they have.
Although they are poor, they are thankful to God.
But that is not always an easy thing to do. There are times when it is hard to give thanks in the midst of life’s inequities, when bad
things happen to good people. When things aren’t going our way, it is hard to be thankful. When trouble comes it is easier to complain to
God rather than give Him thanks for what we do have.
This reminds me of the story in the book of Joel, where the people of Judah were facing a disaster of swarming locusts. They were an
agricultural community who depended upon the produce of their crops to sustain them physically, socially, and economically. Also
impacted by the plague was their spiritual life, because when their animals died, they had no sacrifice to bring to the temple. They found it
difficult to praise God in other ways, and hard to give thanks… so instead they began to complain. Faith turned to fatalism, courage to
cynicism, and hope seemed to be on vacation! There was no prayer, no singing, no faith, and they were about to give up on their future
because of the setback.
Have you ever been there? Chances are that some of you have. As I sat to write this word it is the fourth anniversary of the arson fire
that tried to destroy our headquarters, and this ministry. Stepping out of my car to come in today, I noticed the indent in the driveway
made by the wood that held up the trailer which became our office space during that time. It brought me back to that awful time immediately. Ministries are not exempt from setbacks. Families, nations, communities, individuals, … none of us are exempt from troubles and
like Judah find it hard to give thanks to God.
But during this time of Thanksgiving/Hanukkah Joel has a word for those who find it hard to be thankful. First Joel called the people
to repentance and to prayer. He said, “Declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the elders and all who live in the land to the
house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord” (1:14). Joel said, “...rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord your
God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity.” (Joel 2:12-13).
When they returned back to the LORD they were able to get a better perspective on their crisis. They saw that God was using their crisis to
bring them to their senses. God was seeking to prepare them for the Day of the LORD which was an even greater challenge than the
plague of locusts. It’s a reminder that God doesn’t bring us through the waters to drown us, but to save us. He doesn’t bring us through
the fire to burn us, but to purify us. And, I’m not saying that God sends every crisis which comes our way. Sometimes it’s on us! But what
God does do is set us up for a comeback! God heard the cry of His people and promised them “abundant rain” and that the “threshing
floors shall be full of grain, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil”. He said, “I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust
has eaten…” (v. 23-25). They learned there are countless reasons to give thanks, even in the midst of trouble… because through it all God
is at work to save us. Even on days where fire destroys all you’ve worked for, you can say, ‘Lord, this is a dreary time. But it has not always
been like this. You have given us sunshine. We have enough to thank You ahead of time that it will not always be like this in the future. By
Your grace we believe that there is a bright side somewhere and the sun will shine again! We believe that new life is possible and You
have the future in Your hand. Your grace has brought us safe thus far, and Your grace will lead us home!’ During this Thanksgiving season let us give thanks that there is power in His purpose, joy in His justice, glory in His grace, deliverance in His deeds.
We are in full preparations for both our thanksgiving outreach of handing out thanksgiving baskets, and preparation for Christmas
parties. We need your help. Your support financially, physically, prayerfully, is all appreciated. Please do what you can. And may God continue to bless you and yours.
Sincerely In His Service,
Pastor Diane