2nd Mile Video Update January 2012

Here is our latest brief video update.  Enjoy!

***PLEASE NOTE*** 2nd Mile Ministries, of Jacksonville, FL, is in no way affiliated or connected to “The Second Mile” organization in Pennsylvania that has been linked in the recent news involving the Penn State coaches.

two:fiftytwo Update

"Ha! Bird's can't talk!" he excitedly blurted out.  In an instant, my view of the boy was transformed.

The third grade boy and I were reading a story book together at two:fiftytwo, 2nd Mile's new after school program, the he saw a picture with a speech bubble coming from the mouth of a bird.  It was a quick reminder of who these kids really are.

No matter what's going on at home . . . 

No matter how many times I ask before they seem to listen . . .

No matter how rough the neighborhood, school, or family they come from . . .

These are still kids.  And to a kid, a talking bird is hilarious.

Furthermore, these are kids made in the image of God, who we have been given the opportunity to engage with the Gospel and a clear picture of Christ.  What a tremendous honor and grace!

If you want to know more about two:fiftytwo and how you can partner with us, check out our page here: http://www.2ndmile-jax.com/twofiftytwo/

Summer is here!

Oh, how the time flies.  Another summer is already upon us here in Brentwood and it promises to be as exciting (and hype) as ever.

One week ago, our summer interns arrived.  Just a month ago, it appeared we would only have one intern, but suddenly and by clear working of the Lord, we now have four interns spending the summer learning, living, and ministering in our community.  It has been really run to see them gel and get comfortable with each other this past week!

In less than 24 hours, our first summer mission team of the season will be arriving, coming all the way from Camarillo, California!

And, one month from tomorrow our 3rd Annual Summer Day Camp will launch.  This year we will once again be setting the cap at 70 students and seeking to add a new element: educational enrichment, where we will work on math and reading skills with the kids along with our usual crafts, Bible study, recreation, worship, and dance stations.  It's looking good.

Thanks for your partnership with 2nd Mile, without your donations of time, finances, and materials we couldn't do this.  

Finally, thank you for your prayers.  We would love to invite you to join us in praying for God's restorative, redemptive, rescuing mission to work powerfully in and through lives this summer.  Pray that he would draw many people to himself and that all of us would be brought close to him in the process!

Thanks again!

Letter from Executive Director

When I was seventeen years old a man told me, “If you want to leave an impression on
someone all you have to do is be near someone for a little bit of time, but if you want to
make an impact on someone get up close and personal.” From that moment I decided
two things: I needed to get up close and personal with those that I wanted to impact my
life and I wanted to make an impact not an impression on the lives of others.

As I think about Christ being Emmanuel (God with us) He did the same thing; He was up
close and personal with His creation. Stop and think about it for a moment, the
Creator of the Universe being up close and personal, walking along side and talking to
his Creation. He definitely made an impact on the lives that He came across. And that
impact can still be felt to this very day. It’s a very powerful thing to be up close and
personal. It’s messy, it takes time, and it definitely isn’t easy, but it’s worth it.

For most of us, we are the product of the ones who took the time to be up
close and personal with us, they took the time to build into our lives. Often times it might
be because someone saw something in us that we ourselves couldn’t see. They
believed in who and what we could become.

I love God’s way of doing things, He takes two fishes and five loaves of bread and feeds
the five thousand. He takes twelve ordinary men and turns the world upside down. He
takes a beauty pageant winner and a forgotten kid sitting in a jail and saves a nation. The
statistics and reality for this community are often times overwhelming, but so is trying to
feed 5000 with some kid’s little lunch that his mom has packed for him. After all, with God
all things are possible!

I believe with all my heart that now is the time for 2nd Mile Ministries to invest and build
this Community Youth Center. I believe God wants to be up close and personal with the
folks in the Brentwood community. It’s not just a building, but it’s the difference between
being near or up close and personal. It is the opportunity to build and make an impact
with this community.

Now is the time to build! Will you join us?

Grace and peace,

Andraé Robinson
Executive Director, 2nd Mile Ministries