¤ ¤
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¤ I want to spend my
life mending broken people ¤
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¤ I want to spend
my life removing pain ¤
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¤ Lord let my words
heal a heart that hurts ¤
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¤ I want to spend my
life mending broken people ¤
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¤ ¤
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Hello and welcome to 3ABN Today.
We have a program that's kind of
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personal to us.
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I know, very special.
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Angela and John Lomacang.
You know often times we invite
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guests to come to 3ABN. But
these are guests that we didn't
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have to invite. They actually
live here and they go to our
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church and they are very much a
part of the ministry of 3ABN and
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the Thompsonville Seventh-day
Adventist Church and the
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Thompsonville community. And
so some of you might have heard
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programs about missionaries
going overseas. We've got
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missionaries right here. (That's
right, local) And making a
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difference in the local
community. So stay tuned
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because you might be wondering
what can I do for the Lord? He
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might be saying to you Hey,
look outside your window. Look
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outside the doors of your church
it's outside the doors of your
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home. You don't have to travel
far, just down the road. And
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your life will make a difference
and the impact to the people
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that are around you and that's
why the program is special to us
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today.
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Yeah, it's very special. It's
going to be a good program too.
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I'm looking forward to it.
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And we want to thank you though.
My wife is with me today, Angela
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Some of you may or may not know
that. She's the better part of
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our marriage. We've been
together for a long time, I
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won't say how long but praise
God for that. And thank you for
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what you do for 3ABN as you
continue giving your time and
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your finances to get us ready
for the coming of the Lord. But
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before we introduce our guests
to you today we're going to have
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some music and...
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Yeah, Rendall Caviness is
going to share a song called
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I want to be a Christian and
I know that song, in my heart.
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¤ ¤
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Thank you, Rendall. (Beautiful)
I didn't know he played
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harmonica so well.
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Oh yes, he's a professional
and also he and Melody his wife,
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they do the food, right, for
camp meeting. They take care of
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all the food, his wife does
and he is a great help to her.
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Thank you for that wonderful
song. That really sets the stage
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because our guest today
didn't just say I want to be a
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Christian. They said what impact
will a Christian make when the
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Lord is working on his or
her heart. And we have all hers
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today and honey why
don't you introduce our family.
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Okay who's the head of the
Browse Around, okay, (Karen
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Owens) Karen Owens and we have
Kris Caviness and we have Dee
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Hilderbrand. They're all
church members. (That's right)
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Before we dive into what you do
just let the people watching and
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listening know who you are. I
already told them where you live
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What's the role you have with
Browse Around. We'll tell the
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story in just a moment.
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(Karen Owens) Well I wanted
to serve the Lord and I had
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dedicated myself to it and I
wanted to do something for the
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community. You know our church
had a community center in West
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Frankfurt many years ago
and they had closed because the
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building sold. And I was
thinking about that and I
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thought you know that would
really be something great to
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have in our community because
there's just a lot of people
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have needs. And the prices are
going so high you know. You know
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we have a place where they can
get something to wear, something
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to eat, appliances, or whatever
and so I just thought a thrift
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store would be great.
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And the Lord brought that dream
to you. We'll talk about that in
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a moment because
it's really amazing.
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Yes but who is Karen? You
and your husband work, well your
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husband works here at 3ABN.
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Yeah, we've been here for 26
years and we just love the place
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It's been a place to grow, it's
been a place to learn things
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about yourself and the changes
you need to make and we've had
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many different positions at 3ABN
and we've learned a lot. And
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wonderful people. We're all
human, we are not perfect in any
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way or shape. But we're all
growing towards the Lord and
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wanting to see other
people know the Lord like we do.
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One other nugget. You helped
take care of that little doggy.
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Yeah, Ginger.
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Beautiful Ginger for Kids...
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From 3ABN Kids
Network, yes. We raised her.
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So if they ever see Little
Ginger, puppy Ginger, Karen has
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the joy of taking care of Ginger
every now and then. Appreciate
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that. And right across from
us we have somebody who's been a
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part of this community for a
little bit, Kris Cavaness. Tell
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us about you Kris.
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Well Mike and I have lived here
for 53 years. We're from this
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area. From the moment we
got married we moved into
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Thompsonville and we started
right away at the Baptist Church
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there. So we were Baptists
for years and years. About eight
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years ago the Lord got ahold of
us about Sabbath and that's how
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we became members of the
Adventist church. And I've
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always had a heart for the Lord
and a heart to volunteer and so
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I knew that at some point when
I quit working that I wanted to
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volunteer. And so it was
about four or five years ago the
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Sabbath lesson was on community
and it really convicted me. And
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so God and I had a talk. Mike
and I had a business on main
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street for 15 years here so
we know everyone, we know the
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community, we've been involved
in things over the years. So
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then I prayed and I said
God it's Thompsonville. What
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possibly could I do here.
You know we're a small place. So
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quickly the answer came and I
volunteered for a while through
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the Baptist church even though
I was an Adventist at that time.
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But I knew everyone there. They
had an after-school program so I
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volunteered to work with
children after the school was
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out and they needed someone to
watch them until their parents
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could pick them up. And then
there was also another clothing
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give away here and I volunteered
for that. So in the meantime
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3ABN recruited me to come work
here so I worked here three and
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a half years. But when the
Browse Around came around I knew
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that at some point I wanted to
volunteer and be a part of that.
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And God just put
everything into place.
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Yeah and we're going to talk
about that amazing story and how
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that evolved in just a
moment. But somebody...
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You also have a family?
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Oh sure. Mike and I have two
daughters. Our oldest daughter
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is married and gave us our two
beautiful grandkids and they go
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to the little Baptist church
here in town. And my other
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daughter, my youngest daughter
lives in St. Louis and so we
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have a beautiful family.
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And your husband works here.
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Oh yes, and Mike works here.
Mike will never retire. He's
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just wound up all the time. So
he works here in the maintenance
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and mows and takes care of
vehicles and does airport runs
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and whatever needs to be done.
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Yeah, we could see his finger
print all over the property.
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He's a good man. Both of
you. Thank you for being here.
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And some people may know
Dee. Dee's not a stranger.
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I come and go. Different
things. Yeah. (Dee Hilderbrand)
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So I just...Karen had talked
to me about doing this and I was
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like well, I'm working. But I
went part-time and then I said
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well, I'm going to change. So
when I quit working and go part
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time to just three days I told
her that I would help at the
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Browse Around. But she got me
involved from the beginning too.
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Anyway. I'm setting up taking
care of the building. I'm very
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much a hands-on person so if you
need things painted or shelves
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built or whatever I can either
help do it or I can get somebody
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else to help do it. So she came
to me for physical help. Right?
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Is that right? (Amen) And to
just make things happen, to get
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it going and to go ask for
things or to go get...I was in
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the process of getting it
started, involved. Because I can
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be a little pushy.
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Dee had contacts. (Yes) So
she knew who to get if I needed
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something.
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Resourceful. I wouldn't use
the word pushy but resourceful.
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All right thank you.
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I like that better.
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Because we say around here
if you want something done go to
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Dee. We appreciate that about
you. Now before we get to this
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dream that God put on your heart
I want to go ahead and talk
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about...Well let me just go back
First, talk about the dream that
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God put on your heart and then
we're going to talk about the
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evolution and I'll just leave
it right there. Talk about this
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dream that God put on your
heart about the Browse Around.
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Yes. You know I have a lot of
nights I can't sleep so I just
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talk to the Lord. And pictures
of a thrift store kept popping
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up. They wanted you know clothes
and food and things like this
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and I just thought you know
that's great Lord. I wonder who
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in the church would do that. And
there's no answer and so some
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more things, visions, came
up not visions but dreams or
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thoughts of putting things
together to help people in the
00:13:15.89\00:13:20.10
community. Be a full community
service. And so I said well okay
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Lord, after several nights
of this, I said okay Lord, I'll
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tell you what I'll do. I'll
go to the Seventh-day Adventist
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church board. I'll ask them
if they would be interested in
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opening up a thrift store.
Surely if they had somebody that
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could do that. And so I went to
the board and the Pastor says to
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me well you can do it. And I
said, I'm not qualified. And I'm
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not. I'm really not qualified.
But I said well surely somebody
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will do it. I'll do it until you
can find someone. And the Pastor
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kind of laughed at me. And the
Lord just worked it all together
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I don't know. I've never had
an experience like this with the
00:14:02.67\00:14:06.71
Lord that He was in full control
because I'm not qualified. I am
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had the training to do the
things that need to be done to
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start a thrift store. So the
Lord just pointed me to people
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that could help me that could
show me how to start it and I
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just went day by day. Every day
I'd ask Lord, okay what do I do
00:14:28.80\00:14:32.67
today how do I go about this?
And He would put somebody in my
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pathway that would direct me and
guide me how to do that. And the
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next thing we knew we had a
thrift store. And it's been over
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three three years now and I'm
amazed at what God does because
00:14:45.58\00:14:50.09
it's not me. But I'll tell
you I have a lot of wonderful
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volunteers. And they're the
backbone of the Browse Around.
00:14:53.76\00:14:57.03
How many do you have?
00:14:57.06\00:14:59.83
Quite a few. Quite a few. I
have about five or six that are
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steady.
00:15:04.93\00:15:06.27
You have like seven or eight
because of the men. We do have
00:15:06.30\00:15:08.34
some men (Multiple voices) Yeah
we get them to tote the heavy
00:15:08.37\00:15:16.64
stuff up and down the stairs
and do some of the heavier work.
00:15:16.68\00:15:21.18
But I want to talk about
the evolution of the building
00:15:21.22\00:15:22.85
because...I remember that I'm
glad you brought that to my mind
00:15:22.88\00:15:26.79
because the board, Dee's on the
board and we voted unanimously
00:15:26.82\00:15:30.06
for it and when I said that
Karen why don't you do it, Oh no
00:15:30.09\00:15:33.80
I'm not qualified and I'm yeah
right. And I think I mentioned
00:15:33.83\00:15:38.63
if God brought you to it He'll
bring you through it. (Right you
00:15:38.67\00:15:41.30
did) but then we had to try to
figure out where we're going to
00:15:41.34\00:15:44.97
put this community services.
So we had a couple of choices
00:15:45.01\00:15:47.31
because across the street there
was a building there. We tried
00:15:47.34\00:15:51.61
to get that and
that fell through.
00:15:51.65\00:15:53.62
We were going to, actually
it was up for auction, so I
00:15:53.65\00:15:59.02
actually went there that night.
We were talking about putting a
00:15:59.05\00:16:02.99
bid in on it, on that building.
00:16:03.02\00:16:04.39
That's across from
the Thompsonville school.
00:16:04.43\00:16:06.46
From the school, yes. And they
called the auction off that day.
00:16:06.49\00:16:12.73
The owners changed their mind.
(Wow) And then later we found
00:16:12.77\00:16:16.74
out it wouldn't have been a
good choice. God shut it down.
00:16:16.77\00:16:19.74
The Lord had impressed me that
the academy had been there and
00:16:19.77\00:16:23.21
it was a vacant building sitting
there on a highway. I thought
00:16:23.24\00:16:27.78
It's a good
00:16:27.82\00:16:29.15
location. You know and it was
just the right size to start a
00:16:29.18\00:16:31.22
small thrift store. It's
actually a community center
00:16:31.25\00:16:35.36
because we want it to be a place
where people come when they're
00:16:35.39\00:16:38.93
lonely. We have a lot of lonely
people come in and just talk to
00:16:38.96\00:16:41.50
us and we have prayer with them
and just let them be. You know a
00:16:41.53\00:16:47.47
lot of people are lonely and
they just don't have a place to
00:16:47.50\00:16:51.07
go and nobody wants to
listen to them because they're
00:16:51.11\00:16:52.77
repetitive or whatever it might
be you know or they don't want
00:16:52.81\00:16:55.44
to hear somebody else's troubles
So and I have good staff that
00:16:55.48\00:17:00.78
really just is able to do that
because their hearts are for the
00:17:00.82\00:17:05.89
community and their hearts are
to help people. So, it wouldn't
00:17:05.92\00:17:11.69
be without my staff, my
volunteers because they make the
00:17:11.73\00:17:14.30
place what it is.
00:17:14.33\00:17:15.66
But the building worked out. It
just has a strange history. It
00:17:15.70\00:17:19.47
kind of has a strange
layout because of the history.
00:17:19.50\00:17:22.27
Yeah, Kris talk about
the history of that building.
00:17:22.30\00:17:24.84
The building was built by a
local farmer and his sons and it
00:17:24.87\00:17:29.54
was for him to be able to take
old tractors and you know redo
00:17:29.58\00:17:34.18
them and bring them back to life
and all that. That's a passion
00:17:34.22\00:17:37.32
that they had. And all good
Christian people too. That was
00:17:37.35\00:17:40.16
another thing, the Millers, they
were really good people. I've
00:17:40.19\00:17:43.22
been in church with them
too over the years. So yeah it
00:17:43.26\00:17:47.40
started out as a tractor place
you know to work on tractors.
00:17:47.43\00:17:50.27
Wow and then it evolved into...
00:17:50.30\00:17:53.27
Well because it was a tractor
place the front was just like
00:17:53.30\00:17:56.04
the office and then the back
of the building was bigger where
00:17:56.07\00:17:59.81
they did repairs and stuff and
it also had an attic that they
00:17:59.84\00:18:02.71
did storage in. But after 3ABN
bought it we had a doctor come
00:18:02.74\00:18:08.45
and make it into a clinic for
awhile. So they installed like
00:18:08.48\00:18:13.92
a sink and a kitchen...I don't
think the kitchen was there
00:18:13.96\00:18:16.96
either then. So they kind of
changed it around and made it
00:18:16.99\00:18:19.66
work for this doctor's office.
So there's several little rooms
00:18:19.69\00:18:23.67
there and then the back. And so
when he left and moved I think
00:18:23.70\00:18:30.04
we did some exercising there.
It kind of got used. We did
00:18:30.07\00:18:34.48
exercise. There were some other
things going on there. It was
00:18:34.51\00:18:37.05
always kind of in flex of who
was going to do what there and
00:18:37.08\00:18:40.92
then, and then, Miss Haney came
(that's right the teacher) and
00:18:40.95\00:18:46.15
had a teacher so that we could
have older classes like eighth,
00:18:46.19\00:18:53.19
ninth and tenth grade or
something I'm not sure about
00:18:53.23\00:18:55.40
that. And so we opened it up as
an academy so it functioned for
00:18:55.43\00:19:02.44
years as an academy (junior
academy) just a day junior
00:19:02.47\00:19:07.41
academy. But when Miss Haney
left and we had other teachers
00:19:07.44\00:19:11.71
you know things change. Nothing
stays the same or static. So the
00:19:11.75\00:19:17.85
school kind of changed and they
moved everything down to the
00:19:17.89\00:19:19.89
main building and so now this
building sat empty. It needed
00:19:19.92\00:19:27.50
some repairs, it needed some
stuff, painting and redoing so
00:19:27.53\00:19:31.23
we started thinking about that
and then...Who went to 3ABN.
00:19:31.27\00:19:35.64
Did I go to 3ABN
or you went to 3ABN?
00:19:35.67\00:19:40.11
I went to 3ABN and asked them
00:19:40.14\00:19:41.48
Karen went to 3ABN and
said a community thrift store.
00:19:41.51\00:19:42.84
A community center where we
can meet our community and it's
00:19:42.88\00:19:47.98
strictly for the community.
(That's right) Our expenses are
00:19:48.02\00:19:50.65
not for us. The money goes out
to the community. We're trying
00:19:50.69\00:19:54.36
to help them with the park and
the police department and the
00:19:54.39\00:19:57.69
fire department.
00:19:57.73\00:19:59.06
So our proceeds after we've
paid expenses and all that the
00:19:59.09\00:20:02.80
proceeds actually goes to
the community. (I love that)
00:20:02.83\00:20:06.63
And we're going to spend a
little bit of time on that too
00:20:06.67\00:20:08.90
but you know the amazing thing
about it is it was hard to see
00:20:08.94\00:20:12.47
what the building would become.
And now we look back on it and
00:20:12.51\00:20:16.14
it's hard to imagine it not
being there. You know we look
00:20:16.18\00:20:19.05
at the building the way you
put it. We have a few pictures I
00:20:19.08\00:20:21.52
want to show about that. Let's
look at some of the way and the
00:20:21.55\00:20:24.62
ladies really got together
and made this beautiful.
00:20:24.65\00:20:26.52
Because it's laid out backward.
00:20:26.55\00:20:28.56
And the guys too. There it
is. It's really like a store.
00:20:28.59\00:20:31.46
That's the main big building,
the main store. The main store
00:20:31.49\00:20:38.93
is where the biggest room is but
it's in the back so people have
00:20:38.97\00:20:40.97
to go around the corner.
00:20:41.00\00:20:42.50
Now where did you get these
shelves, not the shelves, but
00:20:42.54\00:20:46.34
[the racks] to hang the clothes?
00:20:46.37\00:20:47.71
Oh, I have a story. Yeah, you
talk about if God's in it He'll
00:20:47.74\00:20:53.48
make it happen. And at the same
time we were doing this guess
00:20:53.52\00:20:59.25
what Macy's at the mall in
Carbondale was closing. Mike and
00:20:59.29\00:21:05.36
I would go down there and we
were able to buy their fixtures
00:21:05.39\00:21:07.80
which is all those clothing
racks and all those things.
00:21:07.83\00:21:11.23
They're professional. They were
in a beautiful store and we were
00:21:11.27\00:21:14.47
able to buy them for greatly
reduced prices. It just all
00:21:14.50\00:21:19.67
happened at the same time so
we were able to have things in
00:21:19.71\00:21:22.64
there that actually looked like
a real store. It's not makeshift
00:21:22.68\00:21:27.62
God just took care of it.
You know, I just love that.
00:21:27.65\00:21:31.45
Oh, we made our own counter too.
3ABN donated a counter that was
00:21:31.49\00:21:39.86
left over from a program and
it had been a kitchen set so we
00:21:39.89\00:21:44.33
just took the counter off
and all we had to do was buy a
00:21:44.37\00:21:47.97
counter from Menards and put it
on so that it didn't cost us a
00:21:48.00\00:21:53.98
lot to get a counter. So we got
those...we have a nice counter
00:21:54.01\00:21:58.61
We were able to...the church
kind of helped us raise funds
00:21:58.65\00:22:03.05
to buy shelving and stuff
like that. So it looks very
00:22:03.08\00:22:07.52
professional.
00:22:07.56\00:22:08.89
Now Karen I want to go back to
a little because you know you're
00:22:08.92\00:22:11.76
in the flow of it now and you
look back on it thinking wow I
00:22:11.79\00:22:14.96
really held my breath because
God only knew how this was going
00:22:15.00\00:22:18.43
to pan out, getting the
volunteers, getting it all
00:22:18.47\00:22:22.20
started. But talk about it
because somebody is listening to
00:22:22.24\00:22:25.74
this program or watching the
program and saying man I've got
00:22:25.77\00:22:29.11
this burden on my heart. What
was it like when you realized
00:22:29.14\00:22:32.91
that if you didn't do it,
it was not going to happen.
00:22:32.95\00:22:35.95
Mmm, it was scary because when
God talks to you need to take
00:22:35.98\00:22:43.22
action even if you don't know
how. And the thing I like about
00:22:43.26\00:22:48.16
it was that it was not about
me. It was about Him and what He
00:22:48.20\00:22:53.94
would like to do through me
and He didn't need my talent, He
00:22:53.97\00:22:59.07
didn't need my abilities, He
didn't need my work habits or
00:22:59.11\00:23:06.21
anything. He just needed me
to say yes and when I did let me
00:23:06.25\00:23:11.62
tell you I went home and I
was kind of terrified because I
00:23:11.65\00:23:13.96
thought Oh my I have no idea.
I'd go down and sit in that
00:23:13.99\00:23:17.79
building, it had school supplies
in it and I'd say Oh Lord what
00:23:17.83\00:23:22.10
do I start, what do I do?
00:23:22.13\00:23:23.77
Because there was a lot
of stuff in the building.
00:23:23.80\00:23:25.47
Yea I had to move it all out and
then paint it and then I would
00:23:25.50\00:23:31.64
look at a wall, what am I going
to do with the purses. What am I
00:23:31.67\00:23:36.64
going to do with this and it'd
just be "peg board." And so I
00:23:36.68\00:23:42.68
got peg board and put it up
there and put the purses on it.
00:23:42.72\00:23:45.15
The shelves from the school
helped with the knick-knacks and
00:23:45.19\00:23:48.59
things to that effect and then
the bell tables (Oh yeah the
00:23:48.62\00:23:54.10
bell tables) worked
for our shoes. (Who)
00:23:54.13\00:23:56.16
That they used to
have the school bells.
00:23:56.20\00:23:58.43
And got the bell tables from
school. And it just kept falling
00:23:58.47\00:24:03.27
[sic] apart day by day, I mean
coming together. Yeah day by day
00:24:03.30\00:24:07.08
Because I didn't look in the
future. I didn't know what the
00:24:07.11\00:24:10.21
future was going to do. I didn't
know how I was going to get help
00:24:10.25\00:24:14.08
I didn't know...I didn't know
what to do. And I would just say
00:24:14.12\00:24:17.99
Lord you know you're going to
have to show me something here
00:24:18.02\00:24:21.16
and somebody would come in and
say something and I'd say well
00:24:21.19\00:24:25.09
help me. Dee came
in. She'd say I'd say...
00:24:25.13\00:24:26.46
Karen would say how are we going
to get all this stuff out of
00:24:26.49\00:24:28.13
here and I said, No problem work
bee. (Multiple voices) Yeah, it
00:24:28.16\00:24:32.63
was all hauled out. And then
somebody volunteered to paint
00:24:32.67\00:24:35.90
and the next thing you know I
went and made a little board to
00:24:35.94\00:24:40.88
start off with and invited three
or four people that I knew in
00:24:40.91\00:24:45.01
the community, Kris and Dee and
a few others and asked them if
00:24:45.05\00:24:49.88
they would help me develop the
Browse Around because I had no
00:24:49.92\00:24:53.66
idea what to do. So we sat down
and we talked about it and made
00:24:53.69\00:24:57.56
plans on how we would start
it and that and the Lord just
00:24:57.59\00:25:01.30
guided us. You
don't have to be talented.
00:25:01.33\00:25:03.70
No, you just have to be willing.
00:25:03.73\00:25:05.47
You have to be willing. You have
to be able to listen and let the
00:25:05.50\00:25:08.64
Lord tell you what to do.
00:25:08.67\00:25:10.01
How did you get your volunteers?
00:25:10.04\00:25:11.67
I went and asked them. I
went and asked people and then I
00:25:11.71\00:25:17.71
announced it at church and then
people volunteered through that.
00:25:17.75\00:25:22.25
So usually it's...some of our
volunteers are the oldest people
00:25:22.28\00:25:26.69
in the church because they
can be available. But right now
00:25:26.72\00:25:31.93
we're open just three days a
week, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
00:25:31.96\00:25:34.53
with our volunteers so between
Kris does Monday, no you do
00:25:34.56\00:25:38.17
Tuesday, I do Wednesday, and
we have another lady that's not
00:25:38.20\00:25:41.27
feeling well today, Wendy does
Monday. And then Karen kind of
00:25:41.30\00:25:47.24
oversees and then all these
other volunteers come in and go
00:25:47.28\00:25:52.21
through the clothes. Actually we
have a...Robin. Tell them about
00:25:52.25\00:25:55.58
how we got Robin.
00:25:55.62\00:25:58.15
Yes, now when people are hurt or
injured they kind of make them
00:25:58.19\00:26:04.63
do volunteer work. And so, I
can't remember her name but the
00:26:04.66\00:26:09.26
program called me and said that
they had a volunteer that was in
00:26:09.30\00:26:13.23
the area and she'd like to
be able to volunteer and work at
00:26:13.27\00:26:15.74
the store.
00:26:15.77\00:26:17.11
It has to do
with Workmen's' Comp
00:26:17.14\00:26:18.47
It has to do with Workmen's'
Comp and so we said yeah, I said
00:26:18.51\00:26:22.08
yeah We'll be glad to have her
come in and she's been really a
00:26:22.11\00:26:26.31
blessing to us. We're like a
family. We just sit there and
00:26:26.35\00:26:31.55
talk and laugh and God is so
good. God just works all things
00:26:31.59\00:26:35.66
out. We have problems, we pray
together. I had two men come and
00:26:35.69\00:26:41.30
volunteer. They wanted to just
come in off the street and can
00:26:41.33\00:26:45.73
we help you. One was a church
member and one was, he's another
00:26:45.77\00:26:50.61
faith and he comes and helps us
paint and anything I need. You
00:26:50.64\00:26:54.24
know they work and do that. And
I just really count on them a
00:26:54.28\00:26:57.58
lot.
00:26:57.61\00:26:58.95
Now do you have
literature or books.
00:26:58.98\00:27:02.12
We have literature and books out
And I put literature in all the
00:27:02.15\00:27:05.25
bags when we send the stuff out
but I do have books there that
00:27:05.29\00:27:08.52
they can choose their own
(multiple voices) I tell them a
00:27:08.56\00:27:12.29
little bit about the books you
know. This is about Jesus's life
00:27:12.33\00:27:15.93
This is you know and
you perk an interest.
00:27:15.96\00:27:20.10
Do people take those books?
00:27:20.14\00:27:23.20
They're free. I have some people
come in there and take four or
00:27:23.24\00:27:28.51
five of the books. They say you
know I want to look at these.
00:27:28.54\00:27:30.95
So we're taking care of people's
physical needs. They come in and
00:27:30.98\00:27:36.28
they can get clothes because
Karen also, she gives things
00:27:36.32\00:27:40.66
away. If you've had a fire
or... If the Holy Spirit lays
00:27:40.69\00:27:44.26
something...We had a family come
in and there had been a musical
00:27:44.29\00:27:47.96
instrument that was kind of
expensive and we just didn't
00:27:48.00\00:27:50.67
drop the price on it. Karen kept
saying, I'm saving it for the
00:27:50.70\00:27:53.90
right person, I'm saving it
for the right person. So these
00:27:53.94\00:27:57.81
people came in just as we were
closing. But we didn't close our
00:27:57.84\00:28:01.98
doors, we stayed open. And
as we worked with them and as we
00:28:02.01\00:28:04.65
talked to them and heard
more and more and the woman said
00:28:04.68\00:28:09.38
something about Oh my husband
does music and he had been out
00:28:09.42\00:28:13.29
of work. We prayed with him. He
had a job application in. Karen
00:28:13.32\00:28:18.79
ended up giving this man...and
it was a Christmas time, it was
00:28:18.83\00:28:22.10
at Christmas time and he didn't
know it. We hid it in a box. His
00:28:22.13\00:28:27.24
wife knew. His wife knew...
00:28:27.27\00:28:28.60
We put things they had gotten
from the store on top of it and
00:28:28.64\00:28:30.57
we...
00:28:30.61\00:28:32.91
Hid it in the box and put stuff
on top of it and down in the car
00:28:32.94\00:28:34.28
so he didn't know till later.
00:28:34.31\00:28:35.64
Oh he was there
but he didn't know.
00:28:35.68\00:28:38.01
Yeah. He was babysitting the
children outside and it was just
00:28:38.05\00:28:44.82
it brought us
to tears because...
00:28:44.85\00:28:48.26
His wife was just very tickled
about it because you know I
00:28:48.29\00:28:51.09
asked the Lord when the right
person comes you just show me
00:28:51.13\00:28:53.29
and you know she just made a
statement and they were going
00:28:53.33\00:28:58.33
through a really rough time. And
I said okay. Would your husband
00:28:58.37\00:29:05.04
like to have a musical
instrument. She was looking at
00:29:05.07\00:29:08.04
it and she knew it was expensive
and I said you know how about if
00:29:08.08\00:29:12.65
I give that to you and give it
to him, it'll encourage him. And
00:29:12.68\00:29:18.02
that's what we gave him. She
just couldn't believe it. You
00:29:18.05\00:29:19.75
know. That's what we're
there for. To be a blessing.
00:29:19.79\00:29:23.89
It's not just the physical
part. It's to also feed them
00:29:23.93\00:29:26.23
spiritually. Just like what
Jesus did. He met their physical
00:29:26.26\00:29:31.00
needs and then like Karen says
we pray with people. They can
00:29:31.03\00:29:36.30
come and talk. We don't try to
convert them We're not (multiple
00:29:36.34\00:29:42.71
voices) All we're doing is
planting love. That's why we're
00:29:42.74\00:29:45.51
there is to plant love.
And that's why we look for
00:29:45.55\00:29:48.02
volunteers that have a burden
to plant love in their hearts.
00:29:48.05\00:29:51.89
I heard someone once say don't
love evangelism, love people
00:29:51.92\00:29:56.69
and that will be evangelism. And
those are the things and I want
00:29:56.73\00:30:00.33
to talk about the impact on the
community now because we have a
00:30:00.36\00:30:03.83
community board. We have a
community where they gather
00:30:03.87\00:30:08.60
together and have meetings on a
monthly basis and talk about...
00:30:08.64\00:30:13.11
The village board.
00:30:13.14\00:30:14.48
Yeah, it's the village board
and they meet once a month and
00:30:14.51\00:30:17.91
discuss village business and
I know everybody on that board
00:30:17.95\00:30:21.92
I know everybody but...Yeah
we take the money to them and I
00:30:21.95\00:30:29.02
want to back up and say
that we're a small community in
00:30:29.06\00:30:32.26
Southern Illinois and there's
a church on every corner and
00:30:32.29\00:30:35.53
there's churches all around this
community, there's four right
00:30:35.56\00:30:38.63
here in Thompsonville. And so
we wanted to be relevant to our
00:30:38.67\00:30:43.87
community like the other
churches are and they all have
00:30:43.91\00:30:46.41
their niche, the things that
they do. And so I wanted us to
00:30:46.44\00:30:50.05
be able to have an impact
on our community and so I think
00:30:50.08\00:30:55.15
that we have accomplished that
and I pray that every day. I say
00:30:55.18\00:30:58.49
Lord make the Browse Around
accomplish the purpose for which
00:30:58.52\00:31:01.39
you have called it. And so we've
you know...but the Village Board
00:31:01.42\00:31:05.76
is so thankful and we're making
inroads. You know we're making
00:31:05.79\00:31:10.73
a difference (We're
making friends) Oh yeah, sure.
00:31:10.77\00:31:16.04
And the mayor, Mayor Harris,
said, You know we have people
00:31:16.07\00:31:18.74
coming in to this board all the
time asking for money. You're
00:31:18.77\00:31:22.11
the only one that's come in
and given it to us. (Laughter)
00:31:22.14\00:31:25.11
That is true. Talk about that.
00:31:25.15\00:31:26.48
For years we've been giving them
money. They want to have a park
00:31:27.25\00:31:32.22
so we're working towards that.
Parks are expensive. Takes a lot
00:31:32.25\00:31:37.99
of planning. And we also help
with the fire department and the
00:31:38.03\00:31:42.40
police department.
00:31:42.43\00:31:43.77
The fire department is all
volunteer. It's all volunteer.
00:31:43.80\00:31:47.20
But there's some times
they need a piece of equipment.
00:31:47.24\00:31:50.61
And if they didn't get it,
they have to do fundraisers if
00:31:50.64\00:31:53.64
they're going to have equipment
because nobody's just giving
00:31:53.68\00:31:57.08
them money.
00:31:57.11\00:31:58.45
So where's the fire department?
00:31:58.48\00:31:59.81
It's in
Thompsonville. It's volunteer.
00:31:59.85\00:32:01.18
In Thompsonville.
00:32:01.22\00:32:03.49
There's a building there's
a fire department building in
00:32:03.52\00:32:05.19
Thompsonville. If you haven't
been on that side street...
00:32:05.22\00:32:09.56
We've seen them show up at our
church a number of times, not
00:32:09.59\00:32:12.19
because we have a fire
but... (multiple voices)
00:32:12.23\00:32:16.26
It's not on Main
Street, it's off.
00:32:16.30\00:32:20.07
Obviously, they would be it
would happen even without us but
00:32:20.10\00:32:24.87
we're making a difference and
the village would probably be
00:32:24.91\00:32:27.71
able to do without us but it is
such a blessing to walk in and
00:32:27.74\00:32:32.68
share what we're giving them and
knowing that we're specifically
00:32:32.71\00:32:36.05
telling them we would like to
help Steve, the policeman, with
00:32:36.08\00:32:41.16
his training. He indicated
one time he needed a new vest or
00:32:41.19\00:32:45.19
bullet-proof vest and we were
able to help with that and then
00:32:45.23\00:32:48.90
the volunteer fire department,
Randy Hargot is our water person
00:32:48.93\00:32:55.34
in town and he's also on that
board and they are so thankful
00:32:55.37\00:32:59.31
that we're helping them. They
would have to do fundraisers
00:32:59.34\00:33:02.54
otherwise for their volunteer
fire department. So you know
00:33:02.58\00:33:07.45
it's just a blessing to be
able to help a small village.
00:33:07.48\00:33:10.55
Now where do you get your
clothes and your cups and all
00:33:10.59\00:33:13.82
that? Where do
you get all that from?
00:33:13.86\00:33:15.62
Well, we started with the
church. I made a request for the
00:33:15.66\00:33:20.70
church for clothing, appliances,
anything that they had that they
00:33:20.73\00:33:24.57
didn't need, if they would bring
it and that's what we started
00:33:24.60\00:33:27.34
out with appliances and clothes
and purses and shoes and all
00:33:27.37\00:33:30.94
those kind of things. And then
people started bringing stuff.
00:33:30.97\00:33:36.28
They'd ask well is it okay if
we bring donations, do you take
00:33:36.31\00:33:39.08
donations? And I said Oh yeah.
Nice clean clothes. We take
00:33:39.11\00:33:43.55
donations and it just keeps
growing. And people just stop by
00:33:43.59\00:33:49.22
And I put a sign out, We need
used furniture and furniture
00:33:49.26\00:33:52.53
started showing up.
00:33:52.56\00:33:53.90
And you know it's amazing.
You're helping us actually
00:33:53.93\00:33:58.53
really what you call that, pare
down all the stuff that we have.
00:33:58.57\00:34:00.94
Dee, I need to give
away some of my cups.
00:34:00.97\00:34:06.04
So we're not without donations.
People...as the community comes
00:34:06.07\00:34:09.41
in because what they comment
about the most is they walk in
00:34:09.44\00:34:13.62
and they're like, Oh this is
so clean! And it smells good and
00:34:13.65\00:34:18.29
it's nice in there.
00:34:18.32\00:34:19.75
We hear that every day. Every
day someone comments how nice it
00:34:19.79\00:34:25.36
is and how clean.
00:34:25.39\00:34:26.73
It's so organized.
00:34:26.76\00:34:28.20
You know I really appreciate
it because I've seen community
00:34:28.23\00:34:30.03
services before and when
you walk in it's like, it smells
00:34:30.07\00:34:34.30
like you're in a closet and
mothballs everywhere. But really
00:34:34.34\00:34:38.77
honestly, it's so well done. You
have irons, sometimes vacuums,
00:34:38.81\00:34:43.75
household wear, radio...
00:34:43.78\00:34:46.92
When you go into a store and
it's not well taken care of and
00:34:46.95\00:34:48.75
it's not clean and it's not nice
it's like well you're not really
00:34:48.78\00:34:51.52
important. Here's stuff for
you but you're poor and we don't
00:34:51.55\00:34:55.52
have to do anything special for
you. People walk in our store
00:34:55.56\00:35:00.16
and they feel valued and we
make them feel valued because
00:35:00.20\00:35:03.00
they are. They're God's children
00:35:03.03\00:35:04.97
I would like to say something
to what Karen said a while ago
00:35:05.00\00:35:09.30
about people come in. I always
pray and I'm serious, I pray God
00:35:09.34\00:35:14.04
if it is your will give me a
divine appointment with them and
00:35:14.08\00:35:17.61
inevitably it happens. Someone
will come in and we'll have a
00:35:17.65\00:35:21.85
moment together and the girls
are in the back room working and
00:35:21.88\00:35:25.99
I'm out there in the front and
they start sharing some issue in
00:35:26.02\00:35:30.26
their life and I'm able to
talk to them, maybe empathize,
00:35:30.29\00:35:36.70
encourage them and you can just
tell like Karen said, there's no
00:35:36.73\00:35:41.54
one at home listening to them or
they need somebody to talk to.
00:35:41.57\00:35:44.44
And I just feel like that's one
of my things, I'm an encourager.
00:35:44.47\00:35:49.28
And I'm listening and I can
share and make them feel like
00:35:49.31\00:35:53.85
they've got
somebody they can talk to.
00:35:53.88\00:35:55.58
So people just
come there just to talk?
00:35:55.62\00:35:57.45
I have regulars that come
in to see me on Tuesday. I have
00:35:57.49\00:36:02.82
regulars.
00:36:02.86\00:36:04.19
And hopefully to get bread.
You know we have Panera bread on
00:36:04.23\00:36:06.66
every Monday. Panera gives us
free bread. We just have to go
00:36:06.70\00:36:11.37
pick it up. It's just what they
didn't sell that day, that night
00:36:11.40\00:36:13.74
before.
00:36:13.77\00:36:15.10
What do you do with it?
00:36:15.14\00:36:16.47
We give it to the community free
You cannot sell it. That's not
00:36:16.50\00:36:19.94
allowed. We're just one of their
you sign up with Panera Bread
00:36:19.97\00:36:22.94
and they will give you their
leftover bread to give away.
00:36:22.98\00:36:27.55
and we not only give it to the
community. If we get quite a bit
00:36:27.58\00:36:30.75
we take it up to the
public school and give it to the
00:36:30.79\00:36:33.56
teachers. I've sometimes taken
little things to the bank or to
00:36:33.59\00:36:37.96
the post office and let people
know in the community that we
00:36:37.99\00:36:42.66
care about them.
00:36:42.70\00:36:44.03
You know what's so nice about
this, and I think that Kris
00:36:44.07\00:36:46.74
mentioned this. I want to go
back to this a little bit and
00:36:46.77\00:36:50.97
lay this on your heart. We
started recognizing, wait a
00:36:51.01\00:36:52.71
minute if your church closed
would your community miss it?
00:36:52.74\00:36:56.04
Would they notice?
00:36:56.08\00:36:58.55
Or would they care?
00:36:58.58\00:37:00.28
Would they care?
00:37:00.32\00:37:03.25
That's important that we're
relevant to the community we're
00:37:03.28\00:37:05.25
living in. There's another
church, every time I turn around
00:37:05.29\00:37:08.36
there's another church.
Well what are we doing to make a
00:37:08.39\00:37:11.79
difference. What would make them
think about us as a church? You
00:37:11.83\00:37:16.13
know we want...that's where my
heart is. We come from the other
00:37:16.16\00:37:22.30
churches in the other places. So
00:37:22.34\00:37:23.97
That's right, that's right. And
when you think about that it's
00:37:24.01\00:37:26.37
really important to recognize
what's the impact in the
00:37:26.41\00:37:29.34
community. And so when you drive
by on 34 and you look, wow, and
00:37:29.38\00:37:35.85
people have stopped from
different locations to see
00:37:35.88\00:37:38.59
what's going on at community
services. And we even have to
00:37:38.62\00:37:43.36
expand it, talk about that.
00:37:43.39\00:37:46.03
Yeah, we need a place to put the
furniture because the shop is
00:37:46.06\00:37:50.37
actually small which I like
because it's personal and we can
00:37:50.40\00:37:57.51
get together and talk. It's just
a simple place but you know it's
00:37:57.54\00:38:00.68
got a lot of variety. And I come
to the board and I said we need
00:38:00.71\00:38:05.78
places to put furniture so we
discussed and the board approved
00:38:05.81\00:38:11.92
having a shed come in. We
brought a nice shed in from
00:38:11.95\00:38:15.56
Benton and they brought it
in and we have our furniture and
00:38:15.59\00:38:18.16
all kinds of things out
00:38:18.19\00:38:20.26
there that people can get.
00:38:20.30\00:38:21.86
It's a Sun Braced (?)
00:38:21.90\00:38:23.67
Furniture is very important,
furniture is very expensive
00:38:23.70\00:38:27.44
So you can come get a table or
something we got. We have right
00:38:27.47\00:38:32.04
now we've got a nice office desk
for a computer and it's glass
00:38:32.07\00:38:36.31
and it's really pretty. Yeah,
just sold a table and six chairs
00:38:36.34\00:38:40.58
So yeah people who can't Yeah.
00:38:40.62\00:38:44.02
I'm just very curious, what did
you end up selling that table
00:38:44.05\00:38:47.52
and chairs for, probably a
lot less than what you asked.
00:38:47.56\00:38:49.89
I did. Yeah, I had $150
on it and I sold it for $100.
00:38:49.92\00:38:55.10
But you know Karen has a heart
to the point that one of the
00:38:55.13\00:39:04.97
board at the Thompsonville
Village...We have a...Channel 3
00:39:05.01\00:39:08.14
does something where it's an
unsung hero and they submitted
00:39:08.18\00:39:12.38
her name as an unsung hero.
So she was actually on Channel 3
00:39:12.41\00:39:15.98
showing...and the cameraman
was like you give money to the
00:39:16.02\00:39:20.86
community. They
couldn't believe that...
00:39:20.89\00:39:23.26
Well they couldn't believe
that we other than our expenses
00:39:23.29\00:39:27.56
it all goes to the community.
00:39:27.60\00:39:29.13
Right, that's true and you bring
out a report for that and things
00:39:29.16\00:39:32.33
are given in a very structured
way. Well let's look at that
00:39:32.37\00:39:36.27
video. I'm glad you brought that
up. We have this...it was so
00:39:36.30\00:39:39.27
nice to know that they came
out to little Thompsonville, our
00:39:39.31\00:39:41.94
population is under 600, over
500 and this is what the Lord
00:39:41.98\00:39:47.08
did through the joy that He laid
on Karen's shoulder and praise
00:39:47.12\00:39:51.19
God somebody said This has
to be known and Channel 3 News
00:39:51.22\00:39:55.09
which is seen all around
Southern Illinois, ABC News
00:39:55.12\00:39:57.86
Affiliate did this story.
00:39:57.89\00:39:59.69
Well this week's unsung hero
is Karen Lyn Owens. Lyn Owens
00:39:59.73\00:40:06.23
credits the dream and God for
helping her open her thrift shop
00:40:06.27\00:40:10.34
And she is doing incredible
things, incredible things and
00:40:10.37\00:40:13.38
let's watch the Unsung Hero
this week. However, it's the
00:40:13.41\00:40:16.44
community that sets their
store apart instead of employees
00:40:16.48\00:40:20.48
property. Newsweek's
Brandon Merano has her story.
00:40:20.52\00:40:22.48
Just off Highway 34 in and
Angel Lane lies a true blessing.
00:40:22.52\00:40:27.22
Well it's a dream that the Lord
gave me and He kept pestering me
00:40:27.26\00:40:30.99
with this dream night after
night till the wee hours in the
00:40:31.03\00:40:33.80
morning till I finally says okay
I'll do that. I'll go to the
00:40:33.83\00:40:37.10
church board. I'll ask
Thompsonville Seventh-day
00:40:37.13\00:40:39.67
Adventist Church will you
support me if I do this and they
00:40:39.70\00:40:42.80
did.
00:40:42.84\00:40:44.34
The Browse Around Thrift Store
and Community Center isn't your
00:40:44.37\00:40:47.04
normal type of thrift shop.
00:40:47.08\00:40:48.58
People come in here. It's a
place to come and just talk.
00:40:48.61\00:40:51.91
Open Monday through Wednesday
from 10 to 3 the store's main
00:40:51.95\00:40:56.08
mission: Helping
others in the community.
00:40:56.12\00:40:58.45
So I went to talk to Mayor James
Harris and he said they needed a
00:40:58.49\00:41:07.13
park, a city park. And I said
well, we'll donate for that and
00:41:07.16\00:41:10.37
we've been doing that for three
years. We also help the police
00:41:10.40\00:41:13.80
and the fire department.
00:41:13.84\00:41:15.17
After paying the bills to keep
the place open all the profits
00:41:15.20\00:41:17.91
from the thrift shop go
back into the community.
00:41:17.94\00:41:20.24
We keep it a very low prices.
If there's a fire or something
00:41:20.28\00:41:24.21
happens and somebody needs help
we just give it to them. You
00:41:24.25\00:41:28.42
know we're just here to help.
00:41:28.45\00:41:29.98
Help the small town of
Thompsonville is more than
00:41:30.02\00:41:32.85
thankful for. So far this year
this shop has raised more than
00:41:32.89\00:41:38.03
$4000 for the town of
Thompsonville. If you'd like to
00:41:38.06\00:41:40.10
nominate someone making a
difference in your community
00:41:40.13\00:41:42.03
head to WISLtv.com/unsung.
For Unsung Hero Brandon Merano
00:41:42.06\00:41:46.50
News 3.
00:41:46.53\00:41:47.87
Wow. I've seen that strip before
The hairs on my arm just went up
00:41:47.90\00:41:51.31
to know that wow how beautiful
that is. Praise God. Praise the
00:41:51.34\00:41:56.34
Lord for your willingness.
You know God turns fear into
00:41:56.38\00:42:00.08
fascination.
00:42:00.12\00:42:01.45
Yeah you know you just don't
think you can do something and
00:42:01.48\00:42:03.79
it was very fearful to even come
and ask you about it. But I was
00:42:03.82\00:42:07.79
thinking somebody else was going
to do it. (Laughter, multiple
00:42:07.82\00:42:13.60
voices.) But when you
said the Lord qualifies...
00:42:13.63\00:42:16.50
The called.
Qualifies the called...
00:42:16.53\00:42:17.87
Yeah, I said Oh my okay.
00:42:17.90\00:42:20.14
Because you were sitting there.
I could see you know you were
00:42:20.17\00:42:22.50
sitting at the board. You came
to present this that evening.
00:42:22.54\00:42:25.54
And I was a board member at the
time and I said well Karen why
00:42:25.57\00:42:28.88
don't you do it. And
Karen went (shakes head) I'm not
00:42:28.91\00:42:32.91
qualified. But God is qualified.
00:42:32.95\00:42:34.52
I'd like to say something about
the volunteers. There's no age
00:42:34.55\00:42:38.85
limit on volunteers. We have two
ladies, precious ladies, that
00:42:38.89\00:42:43.59
are in their 80s and they can
work circles around us. And it's
00:42:43.63\00:42:49.13
just amazing and their spirit
and their...well we just have
00:42:49.16\00:42:53.60
the best time. We visit and talk
and laugh and share and pray and
00:42:53.64\00:42:57.54
you know it's a
blessing to volunteer.
00:42:57.57\00:42:59.91
So you could be young.
00:42:59.94\00:43:01.28
You could be young,
you could be any age.
00:43:01.31\00:43:04.15
And it's just your own community
I know that most of us now
00:43:04.18\00:43:08.05
Isaiah 6:8 And I heard the voice
of the Lord saying whom shall I
00:43:08.08\00:43:12.09
send and who will go for us.
So when you read that scripture
00:43:12.12\00:43:15.99
stop and think like Pastor
Lomacang...We were talking
00:43:16.02\00:43:19.19
in the beginning of this program
You don't have to go to Africa
00:43:19.23\00:43:22.93
or Asia or South America. Even
to another town or another state
00:43:22.96\00:43:28.40
If God lays a burden on your
heart to make your church make
00:43:28.44\00:43:34.34
a difference in your community,
Look around. He'll open the
00:43:34.38\00:43:38.28
doors because like Karen said,
If God is in it, there's no
00:43:38.31\00:43:40.78
stopping. He'll help you
do something like this in your
00:43:40.82\00:43:44.65
community if you're willing
to do this. And He provides.
00:43:44.69\00:43:47.49
When He calls people He provides
and He trains. I've watched
00:43:47.52\00:43:51.76
Karen grow in amazing ways. It's
been so much fun and all of us
00:43:51.79\00:43:58.13
it just makes a difference
in our lives doing this. And
00:43:58.17\00:44:03.54
everybody out there, every
church can make a difference in
00:44:03.57\00:44:06.37
their community. Just step out.
00:44:06.41\00:44:07.74
That's right. (Just
step out) And do it right.
00:44:07.78\00:44:11.21
The scripture I want to share is
Matthew 5:16: Let your light so
00:44:11.25\00:44:14.48
shine before men that they will
see your good works and glorify
00:44:14.52\00:44:18.52
your heavenly Father.
00:44:18.55\00:44:21.29
Kris that was just in my head
and you know I'm going to say
00:44:21.32\00:44:23.76
to Karen, I know when you open
the doors whenever whoever's
00:44:23.83\00:44:26.90
in charge opens the door that
day, it's like turning on the
00:44:26.93\00:44:30.00
light. It's like letting the
light shine. Wow, how wonderful
00:44:30.03\00:44:33.07
that is. And now let's talk
about some of the future plans
00:44:33.10\00:44:35.90
you have for the Browse Around
because I know we're talking
00:44:35.94\00:44:39.27
about some things we talked
about at a board meeting but
00:44:39.31\00:44:41.51
just share that because we're
going to reach out to the people
00:44:41.54\00:44:43.98
watching and listening.
00:44:44.01\00:44:45.35
We're thinking
about a food pantry.
00:44:45.38\00:44:46.82
Oh no, we're not thinking about
it. We're stepping out in faith.
00:44:46.85\00:44:50.49
There you go, there you go Dee.
00:44:50.52\00:44:52.02
It's going to happen.
00:44:52.05\00:44:55.29
So I was wondering well where
am I going to put this food?
00:44:55.32\00:44:58.39
pantry because the Lord was
impressing me to do that and
00:44:58.43\00:45:01.96
Kim our community service
director had suggested that we
00:45:02.00\00:45:07.30
do this. And I thought well Lord
where am I going to put, the
00:45:07.34\00:45:11.21
building, I mean we're packed in
here. And one day I was walking
00:45:11.24\00:45:15.64
by my office and I looked in
there and I thought well that
00:45:15.68\00:45:19.48
would make a food pantry, just
the right size. So I went and I
00:45:19.51\00:45:25.55
asked the health, and we have
our lady that comes in and does
00:45:25.59\00:45:28.99
massages, and for diabetes,
blood work and things like that
00:45:29.02\00:45:34.13
She's a nurse. (She's a
nurse.) So she can do your blood
00:45:34.16\00:45:38.03
pressure and do the pinprick
for sugar. Oh yes and she does
00:45:38.07\00:45:44.14
back massages for
free. You can donate but...
00:45:44.17\00:45:47.51
I asked her if I can move her
office to the laundry room. Now
00:45:47.54\00:45:51.28
the laundry room's not small,
it's not junky, it's nice. And
00:45:51.31\00:45:54.88
she said sure, she didn't care
so I moved into her office and
00:45:54.92\00:45:58.45
she moved into the laundry room
and now we're painting and going
00:45:58.49\00:46:01.86
to figure out the shelving
and all this stuff and hopefully
00:46:01.89\00:46:05.43
sometime in the next two or
three months Kim says that we'll
00:46:05.46\00:46:09.26
start getting food in.
00:46:09.30\00:46:10.87
(Wow) Because Kim got somebody
who stepped up. Kim's going to
00:46:10.90\00:46:14.87
help you provide the food. You
don't...That's not something you
00:46:14.90\00:46:17.24
have to do. But
she has connections.
00:46:17.27\00:46:19.11
You know we even have a vision
we talked about this at one of
00:46:19.14\00:46:21.84
the board meetings recently
about expanding the building.
00:46:21.88\00:46:24.61
Let's to figure out ways
of expanding the...I mean it's
00:46:24.65\00:46:28.42
exciting to see that what was a
fearful project has become like
00:46:28.45\00:46:32.05
it's now becoming, we're
beginning to see wow, you build
00:46:32.09\00:46:36.52
it, God will fill it. And we're
going to do our part because we
00:46:36.56\00:46:39.63
have a ton more to give.
00:46:39.66\00:46:41.06
You had a wonderful
idea of how to do a building.
00:46:41.10\00:46:43.90
Yeah, we talked about
containers. Shipping containers
00:46:43.93\00:46:49.10
and they're not as expensive
as putting an actual physical
00:46:49.14\00:46:51.94
structure up. Trying to build it
with wood and and it's probably
00:46:51.97\00:46:57.11
maybe the most
weatherproof option we can get.
00:46:57.15\00:46:59.28
Yeah and you just
finish the inside of it.
00:46:59.31\00:47:01.42
We're going to make that happen
Now we're looking at something
00:47:01.45\00:47:04.89
that can happen and that's the
nice thing. We have a wonderful
00:47:04.92\00:47:07.72
group of people ladies and
gentlemen. We even have a couple
00:47:07.76\00:47:11.73
of mascots. Dogs somebody...
00:47:11.76\00:47:15.63
Ginger greeters that
come out and greet the people.
00:47:15.66\00:47:18.57
I went there the other day and
both of them came to me and one
00:47:18.60\00:47:21.07
wanted to rub belly and one...
But now let's talk about people
00:47:21.10\00:47:24.51
that are watching the program,
we want to reach out to some of
00:47:24.54\00:47:27.38
you that...We have our treasurer
here today who also is a part of
00:47:27.41\00:47:31.38
the treasury for the Browse
Around. Talk about how people
00:47:31.41\00:47:33.11
that are watching or listening
can reach out and be a part of
00:47:33.15\00:47:36.55
that if they can't
be here physically.
00:47:36.58\00:47:37.92
Yeah, it's very easy. If you
want to help the Browse Around
00:47:37.95\00:47:42.79
you just give to the
Thompsonville church and just
00:47:42.82\00:47:48.10
mention on there put a notation
or whatever it is for the Browse
00:47:48.13\00:47:53.70
Around. And it doesn't have to
work this way but I happen to be
00:47:53.74\00:47:55.34
the church treasurer and
I'm also the Browse Around
00:47:55.37\00:47:59.07
Treasurer, because the Browse
Around it is under the church
00:47:59.11\00:48:02.48
umbrella, it is a ministry
of the Thompsonville Seventh-day
00:48:02.51\00:48:05.45
Adventist church. So you can put
your...if you want to reach out
00:48:05.48\00:48:08.62
to the community, you want to do
a ministry, go to your church.
00:48:08.65\00:48:12.22
They will put you under their
umbrella but you can function,
00:48:12.25\00:48:17.79
have you own...The Browse Around
has its own bank account but we
00:48:17.83\00:48:21.16
also have an account for the
Browse Around within the church
00:48:21.20\00:48:23.53
too, within their budget. So you
can help the Browse Around if
00:48:23.57\00:48:27.57
you feel like it and you get
impressed to do that or you can
00:48:27.60\00:48:31.61
start your own. It's not...I
love the name the Browse Around
00:48:31.64\00:48:35.88
because people come in like Oh
just come in and browse around.
00:48:35.91\00:48:38.85
Relax and enjoy yourself. But if
you have a burden on your heart
00:48:38.88\00:48:43.49
to make a difference in
your community God will open the
00:48:43.52\00:48:46.86
doors for you. If God's in it He
will provide. So your church can
00:48:46.89\00:48:52.13
help you and also you can set it
up independently but under the
00:48:52.16\00:48:55.83
umbrella.
00:48:55.86\00:48:57.20
Okay, now I have a question.
Browse Around. We advertise
00:48:57.23\00:49:00.80
Browse Around on 3ABN Radio for
the local community. Where did
00:49:00.84\00:49:05.27
that name come from?
00:49:05.31\00:49:06.64
Well I think it came from one of
our church members. I think it
00:49:06.68\00:49:09.48
was Gloria Nolan. She opened up
the first one in and she really
00:49:09.51\00:49:13.88
had a knack for doing that and
she got a lot of things coming
00:49:13.92\00:49:20.16
in. She loved to go to garage
sales and things like that and
00:49:20.19\00:49:23.99
she picked stuff up and would
bring it into the store so...
00:49:24.03\00:49:26.26
That was in West Frankfurt. That
was West Frankfurt. It was for
00:49:26.29\00:49:28.96
the school.
00:49:29.00\00:49:31.23
She was very resourceful
00:49:31.27\00:49:32.60
Yes, she was.
00:49:32.63\00:49:33.97
She knew how to stretch a penny.
Praise the Lord for her impact
00:49:34.00\00:49:38.17
and now a seed planted many
years ago carries on to go into
00:49:38.21\00:49:42.74
a dream. And so dreams are not
scary. It's just that when we
00:49:42.78\00:49:48.12
think that we have to accomplish
it on our own and you realize
00:49:48.15\00:49:50.42
it's not just you that God put
that dream on but it's your team
00:49:50.45\00:49:55.62
Yeah, yeah, our church. I'm
grateful that our church stepped
00:49:55.66\00:50:01.23
up to the plate and was willing
to move forward with it. Because
00:50:01.26\00:50:06.87
it wasn't a known thing you know
and I was unqualified (Laughter)
00:50:06.90\00:50:13.27
So you really took a chance in
putting it in my hands and I put
00:50:13.31\00:50:18.05
it in God's hands. I just said
well you got me in this mess
00:50:18.08\00:50:22.85
you're going to have to get me
out of it. He did a pretty good
00:50:22.88\00:50:24.99
job.
00:50:25.02\00:50:26.49
Now a food
pantry. (That's right)
00:50:26.52\00:50:28.22
And now we're going to have a
food pantry. I don't know where
00:50:28.26\00:50:34.16
the food's going to come
from but I didn't know where the
00:50:34.20\00:50:36.73
Browse Around was going to come
from. And God was able to do
00:50:36.77\00:50:39.77
that so I'm sure that He'll
be able to provide our needs for
00:50:39.80\00:50:42.27
the food.
00:50:42.30\00:50:43.97
And my God shall supply ALL your
needs (in unison) according to
00:50:44.01\00:50:47.91
His riches in glory.
00:50:47.94\00:50:49.48
Just by asking.
00:50:49.51\00:50:50.85
What's that in your hand?
Ahhh, and He'll turn it into
00:50:50.88\00:50:55.12
He'll bless those loaves and
fishes. You know I want to share
00:50:55.15\00:50:58.65
the scripture before we go to
the address roll. Because when
00:50:58.69\00:51:02.82
you think about the gospel,
the gospel is more than just
00:51:02.86\00:51:05.06
preaching and teaching and
giving Bible instruction. It's
00:51:05.09\00:51:09.46
making an impact on people's
lives and it's amazing how
00:51:09.50\00:51:13.74
Matthew 25 brings out that
impact. When the Lord talks
00:51:13.77\00:51:18.01
about when we stand before the
Lord and he would say the King
00:51:18.04\00:51:21.04
will say to those on His right
hand, inasmuch as you've done it
00:51:21.08\00:51:26.41
to the least of these, you've
done it to me. So Karen you've
00:51:26.45\00:51:30.89
got a crown waiting. Kris you
got a crown waiting, Dee and all
00:51:30.92\00:51:34.66
the other people that have
worked at Browse Around and
00:51:34.69\00:51:36.32
are volunteering at Browse
Around here in Thompsonville are
00:51:36.36\00:51:39.16
going to have a crown one day.
And we want that to be something
00:51:39.19\00:51:42.13
for God's glory. Now we're going
to take a short news break and
00:51:42.16\00:51:45.43
in this news break or in this
address role you'll be able to
00:51:45.47\00:51:49.07
get the information that you
need to pray about the Browse
00:51:49.10\00:51:51.94
Around or to even give your
financial support for some of
00:51:51.97\00:51:56.68
future projects. After
that we'll be right back.
00:51:56.71\00:51:58.95
If you would like more
information about the Browse
00:51:58.98\00:52:03.62
Around Community Thrift
Store you can contact them at
00:52:03.65\00:52:06.89
20710 Shawneetown Rd.
Thompsonville, IL 62890
00:52:06.92\00:52:24.51
you can call (618)
627-7622 or email them at
00:52:24.54\00:52:33.31
BrowseAround@tvsdac.org
00:52:33.35\00:52:40.59