PRAISE

“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so …” (Psalms 107:2)

Power, Redemption, Affirmation, Inspiration, Sanctification, Exaltation

Volume 7 Issue 3                                                                                         December 2006

Hands Up Ministry

PHILIP MORRIS USA INC.

THE ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE

The Servant Team – Leaders:

Ruth Johnson, Ivan Pope, Delois Maddox, Ralph Brown,  and Jackie Hager

Tom Meadows, Roy Campbell and Richard Hatcher-Emeritus

The Twelve Disciples – Prayer Team

George Foreman, Ivan Pope, Janet Taylor, Juanita Langley, Margie Jasper, Denise Warren, Karen Page, Tom Meadows, Pam Barden, Tom Meadows, Deedre Dickerson and Tee Williams

Love Fund Coordinator:

Mary Tinnell

Newsletter Staff:

Sandra Witherspoon, and Mona Eno

If you would like a copy of this newsletter, contact Tom Meadows and give him your home and/or e-mail address.

FROM THE SERVANT STAFF:

PRAISE the Lord!!

Tom Meadows

Speaking in 2007 – God Has A Prophet

 As I was sitting in a tree stand on November 9, 2006 I started feeling the moving of the Spirit in my mind to hear what the call to ministry statement would be for Hand Up Ministry in the year 2007.   The Spirit was saying that in 2007 those that will listen to the Lord and believe He has spoken to them as a present day voice for His people, He would raise up the prophetic voice of this ministry.  There are those among us that really don’t understand the power and anointing that is on HUM.   It was not a happening but a vision of God that manifested in the workplace and He chose Philip Morris and He chose us who serve Him.  I am thankful that we really don’t comprehend what God is doing all the time; therefore, we walk on in faith believing that He is doing and using us. If you are reading this newsletter then I believe you have been chosen to serve Him on the job at Philip Morris.  The rest is up to you.  You must believe and pick up your mantle of ministry and go forward even if no one comes with you except Jesus.  The Lord also gave me the call to ministry for 2008 but I will wait until later to write about it, but believe me you have purpose in 2008

The Newsletter staff is always looking for roving reporters, writers and publishers.  Anyone interested in serving God through this publication, please contact us.

HATYILYTILYAJLY

Has anyone told you

I love you

Today?

I love you

And

Jesus loves you!

If you need prayer contact Karen Page or Margie Jasper or any member of the Twelve Disciples or the Servant Team

Prayer Ministry

The one thing that holds this ministry and our work together is our prayer ministry headed up by Karen Page and Margie Jasper.   Did you know that we hold a noon prayer meeting every Wednesday at the location of the weekly Thursday meeting.  Did you know that our prayer register has about 300 requests to date?  Each of the names is called out to the Lord everyday not just on Wednesday.  It is a humbling thing to call out 300 names to the Lord knowing that you need as much prayer as any of these names.  Many people will be touched by the Lord through Hands Up Ministry who otherwise might never attend church.

Hands Up Meetings

Tuesdays: United Christians of Alleghany Warehouse Company:  12:20 PM – 12:50 PM   

“The Light” at Park 500:  12 PM – 1 PM

Wednesdays: M/C “C” Shift:  2 AM – 3 AM

M/C “B” Shift:  7 PM – 8 PM

Thursdays (Noon – 1:00 PM): Alternates between Operations Center, Finance Center and Manufacturing Center

 Manufacturing Center – January 11, January 25, February 8, February 22, March 8, March 22, March 29

Finance Center – January 4,  February 1, March 1

Operations Center – January 18, February 15, March

15

Headquarters HUM

Cabarrus HUM

Gateway HUM (Reborn)

BL Plant HUM

We are still praying for these sites to get started but we realize until someone hears God’s call, it will not happen.

2006 Christmas Mother Program

by Sandra Witherspoon

“It is hard to believe, but it is almost that time of year again!”  Every year around this time, we begin hearing people utter this statement.  Some say it with excitement, others with expectation, and still others with stress and anxiety.  As followers of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, we can allow our hearts to reflect upon a tiny, little manger in Bethlehem.  No one would have anticipated that God would have sent the most perfect gift that cold winter night . . . God’s only Son, to live and walk among the human race.  Thinking of it, I am awestruck by God’s love . . . His everlasting, ever increasing love!  We did nothing to deserve His love, His grace, His gift, yet He gave it freely.  I’m even more amazed at His gift, when I consider that God already knew His Son would be despised, mocked, spit upon, beaten, crucified.  As a mother, I cannot fathom the depth of God’s love and the abundance of His mercy and grace when He knowingly sent His Son to die for us!    

The holiday season is approaching once again, and I encourage you to take a few moments each day to reflect upon the true meaning of this holiday season.  As you plan to fellowship and exchange gifts with your family and friends please consider giving of yourself, your time, your effort, and your money to help others less fortunate than you.  Hands Up has supported at least one family for each year the ministry has been in existence.  Since Hands Up is in its 7^th year, we are planning to sponsor seven families; however, as we experienced last year, man can plan, but God grants the increase!  Last year, thanks to your support and God’s tremendous blessings, we sponsored more than double the number of families we initially planned to support!! 

If you would like to participate in the 2006 Hands Up Christmas Mother Program, please contact Sandra Witherspoon at 283-9554.  We are currently seeking the following: 

       Prayer Warriors

       Family Coordinators (coordinates the collection of gifts for a family)

       Shoppers

       Gift Wrappers

       Gift Distribution

Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

THE “U” IN JESUS 

        
Before U were thought of or time had begun,
God stuck U in the name of His Son. 
      
And each time U pray, you'll see it's true,
You can't spell out JesUs and not include U. 
      
You're a pretty big part of His wonderful name,
For U, He was born; that's why He came. 
     
And His great love for U is the reason He died.
It even takes U to spell crUcified. 
 
Isn't it thrilling and splendidly grand
He rose from the dead, with U in His plan? 
     
The stones split away, the gold trUmpet blew,
and this word resUrrection is spelled with a U. 
          
When JesUs left earth at His upward ascension, He felt there was one thing He just had to mention. 
    
"Go into the world and tell them it's true
That I love them all - Just like I love U." 
    
So many great people are spelled with a U,
Don't they have a right to know JesUs too? 
    
It all depends now on what U will do,
He'd like them to know,
But it all starts with U. 
     

             Will YOU pass it on.

                 When Jesus died on the cross he was thinking of you! If you are one of the 7% who will stand up for him, share this.

93% of people won't share it.

A Father’s Love!

Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him. Like arrows in the

hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is

full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in

the gate. Psalms 127:3-5

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God

belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the

kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in

his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. Mark 10:14-16.

I came to a realization Sunday morning as I watched my children take communion. The Lord had blessed me with an amazing gift. Although I have taken the Lord’s Supper many times with my children this morning was different. I was singing in the choir and watched as my children participated in communion with their grandparents. At that very moment the Lord blessed me with seeing my children, His most wonderful gift to me, worshipping our God the way I had taught them. In the same manner my parents, their grandparents, had taught me.

In allowing me to see this wonderful sight, the Lord opened my eyes to many other blessings that I had not seen. Or more correctly, had not acknowledged. My faith walk with the Lord started when I was very young. I gave my life to Him when I was 11 years old. But, in truth, I feel that He has always been with me. So when I became a parent I thought I knew all there was to teach my kids about God, and our faith. Was I wrong! I laugh now, looking back.

A Father’s Love continued

My children are older and I am learning more about God, and my faith, than I ever knew before. My children are teaching me about my faith by there mere presence. See, to me, there is no greater love than that of parent for their child. The most precious gift in the world is that

of having a child. There is no greater job than that of being a parent. I can have the most trying day, stress beyond belief! But when I come home to the sight of my child running to me yelling my name, jumping into my arms, hugging me, and saying, “I love you Daddy”, cures me. I am whole again. What a wonderful blessing they are. They love me no matter what. Their love is an unconditional love. I was always taught that as a Christian my goal is to be more like Jesus. I feel that being a father to the children He has given me, and raising them in the manner that God raises us, I am one step closer to that goal. God sacrificed Himself on the cross to save us. I would willingly give up my life to save any of my children. He guards and protects us. I guard and protect my children. He gave me the gift of children, who are blessings everyday to me. I offer my praise and worship to Him everyday for His blessings. A father’s love is never-ending and constant. God’s love is never-ending and forever. A father’s sacrifices for his children is done out of love. God made the ultimate sacrifice for us because of love. Children are important

to God. What do you think should be important to you? To me, Good Friday is the day God made His sacrifice for us. The day God saved all his children. I see Easter Sunday as the day that should be Father’s day. Father’s day for God!

I don’t know about you. But when I see Him on Judgment Day, I am running to Him and hugging Him and saying, “I love you and thank you for Father’s Day”. Remember when you look into the eyes of a child, you are looking into heaven and the face of God. There is no greater blessing than that!

With a Father’s Love,

Amen

Hands Up Ministry Year 2006 Ends

By

Ruth Johnson

As of Thursday, December 16, 2006, we have completed our 2006 Hands Up sessions for the year.  On behalf of the Leadership Team, the Twelve Disciples Team and our Retired Hands Up Leadership, I want to thank each one of you for the support and love shown through the Hands Up Ministry.  We faced a lot of challenges and afflictions throughout the year, but God delivered us through ALL of them.  Through it all we showed forth God's love (1 John 3: 11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another).  I believe we fulfilled the vision God gave to us for 2006

"Sharing In 2006 - God Has A Pavilion".  His pavilion was for us to demonstrate who He is at every opportunity; every platform...and God is love.   We prayed, we encouraged, we supported, we showed up and we lifted up those who were bowed down in spirit through our uplifted and out-stretched hands.  We gave to the needed, we fed the hungry, and we opened prison doors to them who were bound with uplifted and out-stretched hands through the heart of God. 

Thank you Hands Up for allowing God to use you through ministering to those in need.  I haven't received a final report of the Christmas project, but I know that it is a success.  God always put his super on our natural so that we may know that He is still God. 

Praying that each one of you have a blessed Christmas and Holiday season and that you continue to prepare your hearts that we may continue to stand as the Hands Up Ministry.  Continue to pray for one another.  In all our giving, let us give the gift of life (Jesus) this holiday season.

HATYILYTILYAJLY and God bless!

Your Leadership & Disciple Team,

Hands Up Ministry

Weed and Seed 2006 Recap

By

Pastor Jeremiah

On Wednesday, December 20, 2006, Hands Up Members Sandy (Sandy Claus) Witherspoon, Karen Page and Tom (Santa T) Meadows joined other Philip Morris employees in delivering Christmas gifts to 27 families in Gilpin Court.  HUM was sponsors for seven families that included The Jones, The Boykins, The Wels, The Smiths, The Chavises, The Kings and The Adams. We will have pictures available on the web site at www.hands-up-ministry .org in a few days.  What a blessing it was for us to represent not only Hands Up Ministry and Philip Morris but to stand up for Jesus.  We were able to pray with each family that we sponsored.  We were also asked to pray at the last home visited by the group to include all those present.  This again raised up the name of Jesus to many who may not know Him as Lord.  This is the first year in a long time that the City of Richmond did not sponsor this program.   Nancy Brooks who used to work for the city was asked to coordinate our efforts as a volunteer.  She made it happen with the Lord’s help by calling on old friends at the National Guard, Richmond Housing Authority and Philip Morris.  Thank God for the faithfulness of everyone involved.  We know that next year will be another challenge but the force behind us is far greater that the task in front of us.

As a personal note, I was most blessed because I missed this event last year for the first time since 1999 due to health issues.  This is and will always be a part of my Christmas, to give back to others who are less fortunate as I was as a child.