Switzerland Community Church host COL for Thanksgiving

COL President Terry Crenshaw with SCC Pastor Wesley Slough

On November 14^th Switzerland Community Church hosted all the men at the Circle of Love for a Special Thanksgiving dinner and to honor Ed and Betty Ruder for their 29 years of service.

The worship was inspiring, the fellowship was warm and loving, and the message of going on just one more round was uplifting and encouraging (not to mention the great meal they provided). There was a touching video slide tribute to Ed and Betty.

As Terry Crenshaw said: It was Great!!! The people there were wonderful and as friendly and kind as any you could hope to meet. They received the students with the same love and respect that they gave us directors.

 Pastor Wesley Slough had prepared a really good video slide show tribute to Ed and Betty and spoke on the subject of not giving up on yourself because of age or circumstances, God can work through us at any time in our lives. He said it was especially for Ed, but it touched my heart, and I’m sure others as well.

 They had a lunch feast prepared for us that I couldn’t even begin to describe and was enjoyed by us all, and they even sent what was left over home with us. We also brought back a truck load and van full of canned and packaged food, as well as toilet paper, paper towels, bath and hand towels, wash cloths,  tooth brushes and paste, and on and on the list goes. All things that we need and use every day. Oh, and also a very good clothes dryer and they took a love offering that they will be sending soon.

I was totally amazed by the saints of Switzerland Community Church and their demonstration of love and obedience to our Lord Jesus. I’m sure that their treasure in heaven is rapidly growing.

Thank you Switzerland Community Church!

Circle Of Love Honors Ed & Betty Ruder

On October 31 2010 the Circle of Love board, staff and residents honored Dr. Ed and Rev. Betty Ruder for their love, support, and care for the homeless men in Jacksonville over the last 29 years.

While the Ruders have retired from being Pastor, Director, President and Vice President they remain on the Board of Directors and we had a special time of celebration for them and all they have done over the years.

During the morning worship service, the COL was joined by the New Hope Church congregation with Pastor Vic and his Wife Nancy. We had a wonderful time with the COL choir singing and Pastor Tom bringing a message on one of Ed’s favorite verses: Old things have passed away, all things have become new (II Corinthians 5:17) and we had a formal ceremony where the chapel was renamed The Ruder Chapel.

Afterwards we had dinner on the grounds, served with the help of the good people of New Hope Church, and a good time was had by all. God bless you Ed and Betty Ruder and thank you for all you have done!

From the Desk of Pastor Tom

This is a very busy time of year for us here at the Circle of Love, with Thanksgiving coming up this week and we are already gearing up for Christmas but before we get too busy there are two things I want to share with you:

I thank God upon my every remembrance of you. The prayer and support you give to this ministry on an ongoing basis allows us to help these men establish a relationship with Jesus Christ and get ready to reenter society as a working member. I remember when I first came to the Circle of Love in 2002. I was alone and did not know what to do or expect, but because of you I had warm meals, a comfortable bed, and a place to feel safe while God transformed my life. I thank you all. And what He has done for me, he has done for others as well.

I am also thankful for my Lord Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate this month.

 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

 Wonderful: pele’ (peh’-leh); from OT:6381; a miracle: KJV – marvelous thing, wonder (-ful, -fully). Think about it, His miraculous birth like no other, His sinless life, His sacrifice on the cross and the resurrection, coming back from the dead. And to me the most amazing thing is why: to save the lost. So during our busy time during the next month getting ready for family and friends on Christmas day, let us take some time to stop and be thankful for the Saviour who came into the world to save us.

If You Would Like to Donate Gifts for Christmas.

Contact the Director of Operations, David Jordan at 904-696-3105 to coordinate your gifts with other donations.

Remembering Ed & Betty Ruder

Rev. Thomas Donelan & Dr. E.H Ruder

I have known Ed and Betty Ruder for over eight years now. When I first came to the Circle of Love it was from MHRC and I did not have anywhere to go. I was trying one ministry and they wanted $1500 for me to show up and join their program, and me with no home, no job, no prospects and all the Ruders did was to take me in and love me in the name of Jesus.

 As time passed I completed the program and was licensed, went to work and became a Deacon and Sunday School Superintendent but I never forgot the Circle of Love. About three years ago God called me back and it has been my privilege of serving God for this time with Pastor and Mrs. Betty. I was ordained (see picture above) and became Associate Pastor and board member and got to work closer with a man I am proud to call my friend.

 Now they have retired and Pastor seems happier and more at easy and Betty’s health is better as they enjoy the time in their home, and I have been tapped as Pastor, paying forward in love to these men as I have been shown love,

first by my Saviour, Jesus and then by His servants, Ed and Betty. You will be missed, you are loved, but the work goes on as we build upon the foundation they laid.

From the Desk of President Terry Crenshaw

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is the greeting that the apostle Paul used when he wrote his letter to the saints in Rome and it seemed appropriate to use in my letter to you because “you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, — called to the obedience that comes from faith”.

My name is Terry Crenshaw. I am the new President and Director of Circle of Love ministries since the well deserved retirement of Dr. Ed and Pastor Betty Ruder. Some of you already know my history at the Circle of Love but for those of you who don’t I wanted to tell you how I came to be here.

One day in the summer of 1995 I was at home watching a program on TV that had a husband and wife team telling of how they had recently acquired property on North Main St. in Oceanway where they were in need of help in building a shelter and chapel for people who had no homes. They told how they had operated a collection of houses in Springfield to house, feed, and clothe the homeless since the early 1980s and now wanted to consolidate all these services into one central campus where they could also teach and preach the gospel.

I had the distinct feeling that this was a worthwhile endeavor and decided to help them in whatever way I could, but sometimes good intentions have a way of being put off when other things come along that seem more important at the time.

Now I have had the habit of praying and seeking God through the scriptures each morning and was accustomed to feeling the presence of our Lord during this time. About two weeks had passed since the TV program with the couple and the homeless shelter and I had yet to go to offer my help, though I had thought about it every day. One morning the time came for my regular devotional, I called on my Lord expecting him as usual, and ——- NOTHING!  Why? Why had my Father turned his back to me? Then it came to me, the TV program, the homeless shelter, the husband and wife, their plea for help, the feeling that I should help. Then I knew; that feeling I had to help them was God speaking to me. I had been disobedient. I was so alarmed, so sorry, so ashamed.

Have you ever been there? Thinking that you were pleasing God in what you were doing and all the while being disobedient. In 1 Samuel Chapter 15 King Saul found out “To obey is better than sacrifice”.

Well I got right up, went to the property on North Main St. in Oceanway and that was when I met Ed and Betty Ruder.

I’ll save the rest of the story for another time.

Terry

Here They Come:Thanksgiving & Christmas

The Holiday Season is right around the corner, and before we know it, Thanksgiving and Christmas will be upon us. We try to make both days special for the residents of Circle of Love, and we invite you to be a part.

We will be serving Thanksgiving dinner on November 25^th to our residents, volunteers, and anyone in need. If you’d like to join in the celebration, please let us know by calling 696-3105. Perhaps you or your church would like to contribute menu items or help us serve dinner. Whatever the Lord puts on your heart to do will be greatly appreciated!

At Christmas, we express Christ’s love through gift-giving as we commemorate the birth of our Savior, God’s greatest gift to all mankind. Our main celebration takes place on Christmas Eve as we open gifts, sing carols, and enjoy refreshments. If you’d like to make an in-kind donation of gift items for the men here (usually 30-35 individuals), please coordinate with David Jordan at 696-3105.