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2019 ROP Year-End Fundraising Letter
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Author Archives: VickiBryant
ROP’s Teen Ministry Has a Good Problem – Too Many Kids
Join the ROP Teen Ministry Team –
Be a Part of Transforming Lives
I want to share one last story before our annual Join the Team campaign comes to a close this Sunday – which, by the way, also happens to be the date of our Open House (2 – 4 p.m. at 1540 Boston St. :-). This story comes from Matt Smith, ROP’s new Teen Ministry Director. I think you will find that Matt provides some pretty compelling reasons for people to consider joining the ROP team. If you or someone you know has a heart for teens, I encourage you or the person you know to give this some prayerful consideration.
I thank God for the experience He has given me (Matt) in my short time as the new Director of Teen Ministry at ROP! God has given me a burden for the teens and a great desire to develop this ministry in an intercultural setting. The R.O.P. Teen Ministry exists to transform the lives of the teens through a relationship with Christ.
Before we started up our Teen Ministry again in September, I was worried that we might not have very many kids showing up. I even lay awake at night praying about it. But two nights before we started I had a dream of many teens jumping through all my windows and coming through all my doors filling up my home! I immediately woke up with a sense of peace that only comes from the Holy Spirit. It felt like God was telling me, “Matt, don’t worry. I will send the teens.” Praise God, we have 26 to 28 students showing up on Wednesday nights!This creates another (but good) problem and some amazing opportunities for God’s people to Join our Team! These opportunities include Monday nights with middle school students and Wednesday nights with high school students. We also have tutoring for students after school. Our teens are very receptive to Christ and God’s word. Some are even asking if we can do more Bible studies and discipleship. Amazing! We are currently meeting just one night a week with both middle and high school students because we only have two committed volunteers. They are amazing, but we need more so we can open up another night and minister more effectively to all the kids God is bringing to our doors. So please consider Joining the Teen Ministry Team and watch God be glorified through the transformation of these teens’ lives! If you feel God leading you to get involved, please email me at [email protected]
This is just another example of the cool things God is doing at ROP and the opportunities we offer for people to join us in the work He is doing. I hope you have enjoyed the stories we have shared from just a few of our programs. I also hope that, if you feel like God may be leading you to get involved, you will let us know. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Of course, a great way to learn more about all the opportunities we offer would be to attend this Sunday’s Open House from 2 to 4 p.m. Staff and volunteers are looking forward to sharing how God is working in and through lives and to answering your questions.
Hope you can join us this Sunday. And thanks for considering how God may be leading you to Join the ROP Team!
p.s. Financial support is another great way to Join the ROP Team. This year, there is a $10k matching grant supporting the Join the Team campaign. Please consider a donation in support of the work God is doing through our ministry. Just put Join the Team on your check or in the comment box when making an on-line donation and your donation will be doubled! Checks should be mailed to ROP, P.O. Box 632, Aurora, CO 80040. Thanks
ROP Food Bank Team Provides Spiritual Food to Its Recipients
Join the ROP Food Bank Team –
Meet Physical and Spiritual Needs
As our annual Join the Team campaign draws to a close with this Sunday’s Open House, I want to share with you a story from Deb Ford, ROP’s Pastoral Care and Mentoring Director. One of Deb’s mentees is our Food Bank Director, Tish Freeman. In this story Deb shares about some new ways God is using Tish and her team to provide spiritual food to our Food bank recipients.
Prayer changes things! A few years ago we longed to have more of a connection with our Food Bank recipients. That was when we switched from just handing out bags of food to having hosts take recipients around enabling them to choose their own food. After recipients receive their food, we also provide individual prayer for any recipient who would like it.
Recently, some participants came to Food Bank Director, Tish Freeman, asking to participate in a time of prayer while they were waiting in line for the Food Bank to open. In response, Tish asked members of the Food Bank team to gather with groups of people wanting prayer and to pray for them. The first week it was a little awkward getting people together for prayer. The second week we were surprised to see that as individuals lined up for the Food Bank, they did not line up in their normal fashion, but lined up in groups of 5 or 6 to make it easier for one of our Food Bank team to pray for them. This was not staff or volunteer directed, but directed by Food Bank recipients themselves!
It may be just a coincidence, but since we started this voluntary prayer time, we are seeing more people coming to the Food Bank and they are coming earlier – as much as two hours before food distribution begins. As staff and volunteers go out to serve coffee and donuts, they are constantly being asked when prayer time will begin. Participation in this time of prayer is not mandatory. No other benefits are received by participants other than prayer. It is exciting for our Food Bank team to see our participants coming not only to receive physical food, but spiritual food which feeds the soul.
God is doing a lot of cool things at ROP and there are many opportunities for you to partner with us in the work He is doing. The Food Bank is just one of the many programs we offer that have room for additional volunteers. A great way to learn more about our Food Bank and other programs would be to attend this Sunday’s Open House from 2 to 4 p.m. Staff and volunteers are looking forward to opportunities to share how God has used their service in their own lives and to answer your questions.
Hope you can join us this Sunday. And thanks for considering how God may be leading you to Join the ROP Team!
p.s. Financial support is another great way to Join the ROP Team. This year there is a $10k matching grant supporting the Join the Team campaign. Please consider a donation in support of the work God is doing through our ministry. Just put Join the Team on your check or in the comment box when making an on-line donation and your donation will be doubled! Checks should be mailed to ROP, P.O. Box 632, Aurora, CO 80040. Thanks.
Thanksgiving and Christmas Offer Great One-time Opportunities to Join the ROP Team
Join the Team by Partnering in ROP’s Thanksgiving or Christmas Outreaches
There are many ways to Join the ROP Team. Throughout the year, we seek those that God would lead to partner with us as volunteers in one of our ongoing programs and/or as donors. But at this time of year, we are especially seeking people that God is leading to participate in our Thanksgivng and Christmas Outreaches. Our October 1 edition of Urban Voices included an appeal asking readers to consider participating in ROP’s Thanksgiving Outreach – click here to get the details. Please also keep reading for a message from Lorah Smith regarding our Christmas Store outreach.
Each time I get on Facebook, someone else has posted a new countdown until Christmas. While most people get excited about this, I look at it and immediately start sweating as I think about everything that needs to get done. On December 6th, ROP is hosting our first annual Christmas Store, an alternative to simply handing out gifts for the families. The families who sign up ahead of time will be able to come through and purchase a full outfit (shoes, shirt, and pants) and one toy for each of their children at a discounted cost. They will spend only $10 on each child, but receive about $75 worth of gifts.Shifting away from simply handing out items is going to help our families in multiple ways. It helps to maintain dignity as the parents are actually the ones choosing and purchasing the gifts. It helps to provide much needed clothing for our constantly growing youth. It requires responsibility from our parents to save money and show up at their given time slot. It also gives them a chance to be prayed for and to learn more about the real meaning of Christmas.
Last year, I had a mom simply say “Thank you. Without this, my kids wouldn’t have a Christmas.” The Christmas Store helps to fulfill a need while helping families find normalcy as they celebrate the Christmas holiday.
We are looking for people to partner with us in this outreach. We need new clothes, shoes and toys for children through age 18, and financial donations to purchase these things. We also need volunteers to serve in a variety of roles on December 6th. If you would like to be a part of this year’s Christmas store and bless some needy kids and their parents, please contact me via email at [email protected]
As we approach the end of this year’s Join the Team campaign, please consider how God may be leading you to join the ROP team. Participating in either our Thanksgiving or Christmas Store outreaches would be a great way to bless some needy families and give God room to work in and bless your life as well.
Thanks for considering these opportunities.
Blessings!
p.s. Remember, ROP’s Join the Team campaign ends on Sunday, October 26th with an Open House from 2 to 4 p.m. There is no Bronco game that day. So for those of you needing something to do in lieu of watching your favorite sports team, I encourage you to come to our Open House and visit your favorite (?) ministry team. (well, maybe, favorite ministry team serving the needy in northwest Aurora :-).
ROP’s Impact Increases Many Fold Over 6 Years
Look How We’ve Grown!
Over the last 6 years, ROP’s services to our community have increased exponentially. The Food Bank serves twice as many people as it did 6 years ago, but the number of people served by our other programs has increased by almost 12 times. At the same time, our staff and regular volunteers have increase by just 13%, and ROP’s operating expenses have increased by 49% with much of that increase coming from uncontrollable insurance and utility expenses. Truly, I feel like we are doing our best to be good stewards of the resources God has provided to us through His people.
We thank God for His provision and the reality that after more than 6 years, ROP is not only still in business, but the impact of our ministry has increased many fold. We continue to trust Him for the provision of volunteers and finances that will allow our ministry to be sustained and grow. One way we give God room to do that is through our annual Join the Team campaign.
You can make a difference when you Join the ROP Team!
| ROP Growth Chart | 2008 | 2013 | % change |
|---|
| Monthly ave. people served by Food Bank | 571 | 1156 | 102% |
| Monthly ave. people served (excl. Food Bank) | 62 | 792 | 1177% |
| Total people who accepted Christ | 8 | 220 | 2650% |
| ROP Staff | 8 | 9 | 13% |
| Monthly ave regular vols. | 32 | 36 | 13% |
| Special event/visiting vols. | 547 | 907 | 66% |
| Total volunteer hours | 4991 | 15407 | 209% |
| Operating expenses – $k | $176 | $263 | 49% |
Your support of ROP allows us reach out to those in need of food, education, community, counseling, and a restored life through Christ.Please also keep in mind that an anonymous donor has supported “Join the Team” by making a matching grant of $10,000. Help us release these funds and score twice as many points by making a donation and designating “Join the Team Match” on your check or in the comment box for on-line donations.
Thank you for responding by the end of this year’s campaign – October 26th, the date of ROP’s Open House – with your gift. To learn more about the Open House, ways to get involved or make a donations, please click on this link to the Join the Team website.
p.s. Remember, there is no Bronco game on Sunday, October 26th. So for those of you needing something to do in lieu of watching your favorite sports team, I encourage you to come to our Open House and visit your favorite (?) ministry team. (well, maybe, favorite ministry team serving the needy in northwest Aurora :-).
ROP ESL Story about Much More than Teaching English
Make a Difference for the Kingdom as an ESL Teacher, Assistant or Childcare Volunteer
The following story and appeal comes from Sharalyn Warren, ROP’s new English as a Second Language (ESL) program director.
Several of our ESL students are illiterate. In all of their lives they have never learned to read or write. They only speak the words of their native tongue. These folks need to be taught an oral English so they can speak to a doctor, a policeman, a social worker, a teacher, a landlord, a phone company, etc.
How does a teacher begin to tell them about the all encompassing love of Jesus?
One teacher, Jan, loves her beginning students. She prays fervently with and for her students before each class begins. This last winter she was prompted by the Lord to bring two pair of wool socks that she had found buried in her dresser drawer. It was a below freezing day. That morning, in came an older student with her two adult disabled daughters. The two daughters were wearing thin jackets and thin shoes with no socks. Jan knew immediately why the Lord had prompted her to bring two pair of woolen socks. As the daughters were having the socks put on their feet, I am sure that family got the message that they are precious and loved. This teacher was the hands and feet of Jesus.
On another similar, very cold day, T.G.M. came in to help take care of the children during ESL class. He was wearing tennis shoes with large holes around his toes. He was not wearing socks. Our director, Donna, was wearing thick wool socks and clogs. When she saw his feet, without hesitation she removed her socks and gave them to him and instructed him to put them on. A few hours later, we were driving around the neighborhood praying for the people when I noticed that Donna didn’t have any gloves on. I asked her, “Did you give your gloves to T.G.M.?” She just smiled.
This is the heart of Jesus, the kind of hearts we need to help with our ESL program. We are looking for teachers, assistant teachers and childcare workers. The little ones only speak their native tongue at home. They need to learn the ABC’s, songs and games in English. Could you spare part of one morning a week to be the hands and feet of Jesus to these dear brothers and sisters from foreign lands.
As you can see, ROP’s ESL program is about a lot more than just teaching English. If your heart was stirred by Sharalyn’s story, perhaps God is leading you to partner with Sharalyn and the team to touch the lives of the very needy in our community for His Kingdom’s sake. To get more information about our ESL program, please contact Sharalyn at [email protected] or at 720-215-8992. Training for ESL teachers is provided.
Next 50 Registrants Get Free Head Gear from Headsweats – Grand Prize Raised to $1,000
Many Great Reasons to Participat
There are lots of great reasons to participate in this year’s Pedal 4A Purpose Bike Ride and Fundraiser, like…
- The next 50 people (12 years of age and older) to register will receive a piece of head
gear from Headsweats for free (value $20).
- The grand prize has been raised from $500 to $1,000 toward the purchase of a bike from Schwab Cycles. Fundraisers will get one ticket in the grand prize drawing plus a $20 gift certificate from Wheatridge Cyclery for each $250 raised.
- Every rider will receive a P4AP water bottle and t-shirt and will be eligible to win some awesome door prizes.
- P4AP provides a great opportunity to get some exercise and enjoy a supported ride with family and friends.
- P4AP also offers the chance to donate used bikes for the benefit of underprivileged kids in the city. (We are partnering again this year with Recycled Bicycles.)
- But, of course, the best reason to participate in Pedal 4A Purpose 2014 is because it supports ROP’s efforts to serve the very disadvantaged families and individuals living along the Colfax corridor in northwest Aurora and East Denver.
And to encourage these efforts and help ROP reach it’s fundraising goal of $30k, an anonymous donor has made a $10k matching grant challenge. Every dollar donated to ROP after May 6th will be matched dollar for dollar up to $10,000.
So in view of all these great reasons, why not register and/or make a donation today?
To register to ride, make a donation or simply get more information click on this link – Pedal 4A Purpose.
Hope to see you on June 7th at Denver Seminary!
Pedal 4A Purpose 1 month from today – Saturday, June 7th
The Purpose of Pedaling is Serving the Poor – Help ROP Meet $10k P4AP Matching Grant
Pedal 4A Purpose is a lot of things –
P4AP is bike ride for cyclists of all abilities, offering rides from as short as you like (5.5 miles to first aid station) to as long as 63 miles (with 3,258 feet of total elevation gain).
P4AP provides a great opportunity to get some exercise and enjoy a supported ride with family and friends.
P4AP offers partnering nonprofits an opportunity to share in as much as 80% of the funds raised by their teams. (Youth groups and short-term mission teams please take note and let me know if you are interested.)
P4AP provides a great venue at Denver Seminary with lunch provided by Chick-fil-A.
P4AP offers a lot of great prizes for participants and top fundraisers. (This year’s top prize has been raised from $500 to $1,000 toward the purchase of a bicycle at Schwab Cycles)
P4AP also offers the chance to donate used bikes for the benefit of underprivileged kids in the city. (We are partnering again this year with Recycled Bicycles.)
But mostly Pedal 4A Purpose is an important fundraiser supporting ROP’s efforts to serve the very disadvantaged families and individuals living in ROP’s community. Your participation and financial support allow ROP to continue showing God’s love to needy people in the form many much needed programs. (click here for more information about ROP’s ministry.)
And to encourage these efforts and help ROP reach it’s fundraising goal of $30k, an anonymous donor made a $10k matching grant. Every dollar donated to ROP from this point forward will be matched dollar for dollar up to $10,000.To make a donation, register to ride or simply get more information click on this link – Pedal 4A Purpose.
Reminder – Early Registration for Pedal 4A Purpose ends March 31
Register Now! Save a Few Bucks! And Partner with ROP in Blessing Needy Kids and Adults
Reminder – Early registration for Pedal 4A Purpose 2014 ends in just a few days on Monday, March 31st.
Why not save $5/person or $10/family and register now?
Hope to see you on Saturday, June 7th, at Denver Seminary!
“Snow Days” Report from ROP
A Day in the Mountains with ROP Kids can be exhausting, but it is also a huge Blessing!
The following story was shared by ROP Youth Ministries Director, Lorah Smith, after a fun but exhausting day in the mountains with 15 kids and 4 awesome volunteers.
Near the beginning of our short drive to the mountains, I looked back and saw Tha 
Bee Htoo looking in wonder toward the mountains. As we entered the foothills, she exclaimed “Look! We’re almost to the mountain! They are so big!” I asked her “Is this your first time to the mountains?” She nodded.
Bee Htoo looking in wonder toward the mountains. As we entered the foothills, she exclaimed “Look! We’re almost to the mountain! They are so big!” I asked her “Is this your first time to the mountains?” She nodded.This was one of my favorite moments from our most recent tubing trip. Taking our youth to the mountains provides a unique opportunity for them to experience new things, and have a day of fun away from the uncertainty and stress of their neighborhood.
Spending the whole day with these kids can be pretty tiring, but it is also an incredible blessing to everyone who attends our day trips. It’s a reminder of God’s blessings in our lives, and how much he loves and cares for our kids. It’s a chance for our kids to learn how to trust us and know that they will be safe as they fly down the scary tubing hill. And, it’s a reward for those kids who have done their homework and controlled their behavior in order to earn the opportunity to participate.
Overall, we have the chance to build deeper relationships with these youth, even if part of that relationship means dealing with car sickness, an attitude, or an overabundance of 9-year-old energy caused by too much Dr. Pepper at lunch. I love seeing the kids explore new environments. The joy that emanates from their faces is infectious.
Another favorite moment of mine—Singing along to One Direction (only the most popular band) with the kids on the ride home. The boys didn’t enjoy it, but it’s fun to just let loose and sing along with my 10-year-old girls sometimes.
Hope you enjoyed experiencing a glimpse of “Snow Days” with Lorah . And a special thanks to those who felt led to make a donation in support of our winter youth activities. Your partnership created a lot of smiles and is a huge blessing to Lorah and her team as they seek to grow in relationship with our kids.