First Alliance Church - David Bartelt

David Bartelt

Hello! I am David Bartelt, and I am on a long term missions trip to Waveland, MS, helping with Katrina relief efforts.

Hurricane Katrina was the worst natural disaster in North American history, with unimaginable loss of life. It traveled the entire Gulf Coast, wiping out 90% of Waveland and Bay St. Louis, leaving the area uninhabitable. I was called to this area. I work in a thrift store.

God has led me to create a place of community, where people come not only to shop, but also to hang out. Most are the lost and the broken; wondering who this Jesus is and why we follow Him. This is so much more than a thrift store.....it is a mission field.

There are so many needs. People come through the thrift store, to look for that one thing to begin their lives again with after Hurricane Katrina. Three years out, people are still sleeping on floors without mattresses. They are buying their first toasters, looking for a blanket....... toys for their kids. Rich people who lost everything, and poor people who never had anything to begin with, shop at the Waveland Thrift Store. All longing to gain some normalcy in their lives.

There’s Cheryl, who was too ashamed to come to church because of the clothes she wore and the inability to

shower on a regular basis. Who now comes to church and is a full time volunteer at the Waveland Thrift Store.

There is this guy who travels Waveland Avenue on his bike. He always calls me, ‘Sir’. He comes in the thrift store

looking for clothes, never anything more than that. He smiles at me, says ‘Thank you,’ and rides away on his bike.

Rodney who struggles with alcohol and drug abuse, but comes around to talk, looking for a friend who will accept

him as he is. I have an awesome job.....one that breaks my heart every single day. One that shows me, and

is teaching me what being the hands and feet of Jesus is all about.

It has put me on the frontlines of a spiritual battle. As part of the CLC team we are building a community around

Christ and the enemy tries to sabotage anything that he can.

But we have each other, we have prayer, we have Jesus...and we have all of you that pray for, and financially support missionaries like myself in Waveland, MS, and around the world.

God Bless

David

I will keep you posted how God is working through me and others here at Waveland through this blog. Make sure you check this page often!

Anyone interested in helping support David financially can send donations to First Alliance Church or to David Bartelt at Christian Life Center, 1807 Waveland Avenue, Waveland, MI, 39587. Donations to the Center can also be mailed directly to that address.

Help Needed

Written by David Bartelt

Thursday, 25 June 2009

We are in the initial stages of moving into the new store.

The coffee counters are being constructed, the book shelves are getting built and set up, shelving is being ordered for purchase......We are even getting a neon "OPEN" sign.

This is all truly amazing and has me completely in awe of Gods work.

Moving out of the three quonset huts into a store is hard work. The unseasonably hot weather is not helping getting things done. I had gotten heat exhaustion the past couple of days. My two main volunteers who live down her have had heat related illnesses. I closed down the store early yesterday. The heat advisory continues today.

So this weather is slowing us down, but it is all in Gods timing anyway.

With all of this said, I could use volunteers to help me set up and move into the store. The main move will be in the next month.

Anyone that comes down for missions specifically to help out with the store will be provided free room and board. I could use someone for more than a week, (but that is good too) maybe someone that has a couple weeks or a month on their hands with nothing to do this summer.

I promise that it would not be working all the time, that we would have opportunities to hang out at that beach or just lay back in air conditioning.

So pray about this request, spread the word around.

There is so much to do.

So much community to reach out to.

We would have an amazing time and you would be truly blessed.

Truck Arrival and Missions Team

Written by David Bartelt

Wednesday, 17 June 2009

What an amazing time that was.

It took two days for all of us to unload the truck.

The missions team worked in unseasonably hot weather. There was not much shelter from the blazing sun. The heat index was towards 100 degrees and above. We all worked, unloaded, drank plenty of water, and took needed breaks.

The appliances and furniture were gone in a couple of days.

Now we are continuing the process of unpacking and selling all of the rest.

The heat still begins to pound the coast. But that is another story.

I have so many people wanting me to thank you for this latest outpouring of generosity.

The community of Waveland consider themselves truly blessed.

Joe and Sharon Sacarro are down here for the week, helping unpack, sorting, and packing up the used book store.

We are in the initial stages of moving into the new store.

The Waveland Used Book Store will begin moving in this week.

We are all very excited.

Unsure of the actual grand opening date, but we are leaving that one up to God.

I have also moved into a permanent address:

You can send any cards or letters or stuff to:

David Bartelt

2062 9th street

Bay St. Louis, MS 39520=8610

As for the weather down here........natives of the coast are getting pretty nervous. The early sweltering heat is not a good sign for the hurricane season. The bay is heating up more every day. Please pray that the coast is saved from disaster this year.

Thank yall so much for all of your prayers, encouragement, and support.

Waveland Thrift Store

Written by David Bartelt

Saturday, 23 May 2009

We are in the beginning stages of moving the thrift store

The space has been cleared out

Walls are painted

The floors are being prepared

And more work to get done

There are counters to make

A coffee shop to put together

New shelving to be bought and assembled

God has blessed us with some incredible teams to help make this initial stage of moving possible

It is such an exciting time for us who have been working so hard, and praying to help make this move happen

God is so good.

Keep us in your prayers for a hedge of protection around this ministry and safety for all of the workers that will be coming down here to help us reach our grand opening!

waveland volunteer opportunities

Written by David Bartelt

Thursday, 30 April 2009

There are multiple volunteer opportunities throughout the Christian Life Center and Waveland Thrift Store.

We are looking for a full time cook/assistant cook

Construction manager assistant

Front desk receptionist

AND

Waveland Thrift Store assistant

I will speak for the thrift store assistant.

This person would be working with me as we begin moving to our new location this summer. He/she would be trained on the cash register, unloading shipments, sorting and pricing merchandise, grounds work, among other duties and responsibilities that come with an assistant to the manager.

It would be truly a blessing to have someone knowledgable within the store for me to take a day off of two, or leave on a short vacation/retreat.

If you have 6 months to one year or longer, and would like to serve a community in new and exciting ways, please contact me at 262-689-9285

Also check out updates for the Waveland Thrift Store on facebook.

Info about the other volunteer opportunites can be inquried through the Christian Life Center.

He provided a way.....Waveland Thrift Store

Written by David Bartelt

Sunday, 12 April 2009

God has created a space for us just off Hwy 90 on the border of Waveland and Bay St. Louis.

It is an incredible space with so much potential to connect with the community. As we looked at other places I had said that

I just knew God would create a space for us with minimal work to move in.....and so He did!

We will be officially beginning to move on June 1st!

This new store will have a new name "to be determined", and will focus on the Waveland Used Book Store, Coffee Shop, and link to the community (along with thrift store items.)

Included with the store space, He provided us with a duplex across the street to house short and long term volunteers (where I will eventually be living), space for trucks to come down with items for the store, and space to build a storage unit to house appliances and furniture.

God is so good.

I am so amazed that He chose me to help him guide this ship into ways and places that will give Him all the glory.

There is much work to do.

We need your prayers.

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