SGM Happenings and Operation Support Sufficient Grace~ How You Can Help

There are so many events coming up with Sufficient Grace, and the Gerken family is busy, busy, busy. I always forget just how busy this time of year is. The inertia of being carried along by our schedule seems to take me by surprise each May, as we scurry about to finish up another school year for the boys and me, spend our evenings at the baseball diamond, our Saturdays on the golf course watching the boys' tournaments, our Sundays singing praises, and the rest of our time planning SGM fundraiser events! I'm tired just typing all of that!

Our calendar is filling fast, and we are prayerfully planning the upcoming Operation Support Sufficient Grace events. There are new projects on our hearts for SGM that we will reveal soon, and we're looking forward to seeing the ways God continues to lead and grow this ministry. One idea we have is to switch from a basket, (which is not good for shipping, is bulky and expensive)....to a tote, designed with the SGM logo, filled with the Dreams of You book, bear, and other items for grieving mamas. This will make it easier to ship products to hospitals. We are currently working with our printers to design the tote and will reveal it as soon as it's finished!

Which brings me to another subject on our hearts....

In the past, Sufficient Grace has offered our products to families free of charge. God has always faithfully provided through the generous hearts of so many beautiful people (including many of you), and it has been a blessing to behold. We have, however, asked that hospitals, funeral homes, and others would give a suggested donation in exchange for the materials. With budget cuts across the board, due to a struggling economy, we are seeing less and less hospitals utilizing this resource. Most of our current packages go to individual families, but we would really like to see more hospitals able to provide this service for their patients.

Last year, we developed an idea for others to help defray costs for the hospitals and SGM by sponsoring families and hospitals. If you are able to give in this way, please prayerfully consider doing so. Several people have donated to sponsor an individual, an item, or an entire hospital this year, and because of that, many more families have been comforted in their grief. This has also been a beautiful way that some families have given back in memory of their own child...reaching out to comfort and bless other parents with broken hearts. I hope you will prayerfully consider joining this effort.

To find out more about how you can help sponsor a family or hospital, CLICK HERE. To go directly to the donate page, click here.

Next Sunday May 22, 2011, we will be hosting the SGM Ice Cream Social at our church, Harvest Fellowship, directly following the service from 11:30am-1:30pm. There will be a light picnic-style lunch and ice cream sundaes with toppings. A free will donation will be taken. Proceeds will benefit Sufficient Grace.

                                        

On June 4, 2011, we will be hosting the fourth annual SGM Golf Outing at the Country Acres Golf Club in Kalida, Ohio. Some of you may be saying, "I'm not a golfer. I don't live nearby." There are MANY other ways you can help, if you feel led to do so. First of all, please pray!!! Pray for the weather...pray for the turnout...pray that the time would be a blessing to all...pray for generous sponsors...pray that SGM and many families will be blessed and this event would bear much fruit....pray that I will be focused on the Lord, and not distracted or overwhelmed by all there is to do! =)

Second, you may not be able to attend the event....but you could consider being a sponsor. It is a great advertisement for your business or blog, or you could sponsor as an individual. Some families sponsor in memory of a loved one. Some just sponsor because they feel led. Not only do we put a sign up at our event at each hole to recognize those who donate, but we also put a sign with all the sponsors up at each speaking event throughout the year and we post a thank you on our blog and website. In addition to sponsors, we also accept donation of prizes for our golfers. All of these things defray the costs of the event, and help to support the outreaches of SGM.

There are several sponsorship opportunities:
Sponsor a hole: $100 or share a sponsorship for $50
Sponsor beverages (non-alcoholic): $150
Sponsor the dinner: $250

We are still looking for golfers and sponsors. Deadline is May 29th to make sure we can put up your sign at the event. You can mail donations to Sufficient Grace Ministries; P.O. Box 243; Deshler, Ohio 43516 or donate securely online by using our donate button. Just list the words you would like on your sign in the message section on the donation form. We will share pictures of the signs with those who donate. Please prayerfully consider supporting this event. Email me if you have any questions:
sufficientgraceministries at gmail dot com.

Coming in August, our friend Dave Amspoker will be hosting the annual Ride4Grace motorcycle run on Sunday, August 21, 2011 in the afternoon. Details to come!

Tim and I are also helping with this year's community Memorial Day Parade and will be performing music, as well.

Whew! Looks like it's going to be another busy and fun Summer! I can't wait to see what God has in store for the next step on this adventure. I'm so grateful for those of you who have walked with us and offered your love and support in various ways. It's a beautiful thing to see God's people working together and multiplying the blessings as they serve and give in love. Thank you for your part in that.

Love to all...