We Need Your Help, Covid Has Impacted Our Ministry

 

This one has been a long time coming, but Covid has impacted the ministries I am a part of. Over the last number of years there has been support that has come in from individuals and churches to the amount of approximately $650 a month. Mary Jane and I supplied the additional $1,400 - $1,500 a month to cover costs. We had it, it was never a problem, so, we did it. 

 With Covid having such an impact on individuals and churches we are losing that $650 per month income as of this coming month. That means I will have to come up with that amount on a monthly basis. To be blunt, that just isn't possible. 

 The ministry of The Virtual Pew has been busier than ever, especially with individuals not being able to get out and depending more on online ministries.  I have done everything from meeting with people on a regular basis locally, to spending time online with those in need. There have been situations where I have taken my money, purchased groceries, helped pay for motel accommodations and then some for the homeless and others. I want to be careful about the specifics of things getting done and while I have admittedly been busy with music, I have also continued the ministry work of helping whoever I can in a reasonable way. In some situations, it may be marital counseling, in others it may be dealing with grief from the loss of a loved one and in others literally being available to help in other ways be it transportation, or some other way. 

 I had hopes that with the expansion of ministry recently, along with the music that I would be able to continue to support those ministry needs.  It has been very difficult. We lost approximately 1/2 of our donations some months ago, and as of this coming month, will loose all of those donations, I just can't continue on that path. 

Will you; can you consider helping on a monthly basis?  I may also very likely be looking for another resident in the near future but I will also admit, I don't want to, I'm not planning on running a housing program. Whoever would be considered has to do their part of maintaining the property and following through with things they have committed to do. I certainly don't have, won't take the time to do things that others have as an obligation when they stay here, frankly, if I had my druthers, I would stay totally by myself right, but the extra little bit of money to cover basic costs can help. It also helps if that person is taking their faith commitment seriously and making church and so forth a priority. If the person staying here does their part it can work.  I find it easier and less stressful just to live by myself than to have to deal with those types of issues. I'm a firm believer as to a resident, if they can't take the time to be actively involved in church and Bible study, it is best to live someplace else, or, I live by myself.

Anyway, please consider helping, and if possible on a monthly basis, this is a ministry Mary Jane believed in, there have been areas that she would be proud of that have continued since she went to Dance with Jesus.

 You can give a tax deductible donation to Mosaic or you can also contribute to The Virtual Pew at paypal at mike@furches.org or via cash app at $MichaelFurches.  You can also mail donations to 1249 North Saint Francis, Wichita, KS 67214. 

Thank you for considering helping this ministry out.

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You can also check out Mike's Musical ventures by searching for Mike Furches and Pastor Mike and the Demon Slayer Blues Band.  Mary Jane's album will be out in September of 2020 and the Pastor Mike and Demon Slayer Blues Band album will be released in October of 2020

There are hundreds of postings so make sure to check out the archives. You can also contact me for a free audio book link of The Keystone Kid at mike@furches.org You can visit http://www.thevirtualpew.com/.

Hopefully, you will consider a gift to The Virtual Pew.

You can donate via paypal at mike@furches.org or cash app at $MichaelFurches

Now I get asked this quite often, Can we repost your blogs or articles? The short answer to that is, what an honor that you would ask, and by all means, spread the word. Here is our contact information

The Virtual Pew
1249 N. St. Francis
Wichita Kansas, 67214
Email: mike@furches.org

Click on the following links to learn more about The Virtual Pew

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Who is Mike Furches, What Am I Called To Do

Who am I? I am first and foremost a willing slave to Jesus but I am more. I am a writer, speaker, author, I actually have 3 jobs although many think I only have one. I write, often contribute to Hollywood Jesus and The Virtual Pew, although I wish I was doing more for Hollywood Jesus, my own fault though because of the time it takes to do other things.  I operate an online ministry previously referenced called The Virtual Pew which I started a number of years ago with the help and advice from some rather respectable people in Christian Ministry, that ministry, The Virtual Pew is also about helping people who are tired of church, been hurt by the church, our focus of ministry has always been The Lost, The Last, The Least and the challenge to those in the church to do the things Christ has called us to do. There is a strong aspect of teaching with The Virtual Pew but also helping people, one at a time, with love and compassion. There has been everything done there from Evangelism, (actually speaking with altar calls and street evangelism or one on one evangelism both face to face and on line), to Suicide Prevention or Grief Counseling and because of my own story, often times helping people who have gone through abuse in one form or another, most often sexual abuse. I have worked with gangs, and troubled youth through that ministry and despite what some believe  I don't do homeless ministry 100% of the time because the lost and hurting involves more than just the homeless.  

 I also pastor a church, albeit very small, Mosaic Wichita. We have as a primary focus the charge of making disciples.   We support other ministries and the work they do, there are first line ministries and others that we like and support, some like that of Breakfast Bob that is a front line meeting initial and immediate needs of those he comes into contact with. We know of his intent to share Jesus and  it is as mentioned in scripture, some water, some plant, some cultivate, and ultimately it is the Holy Spirit who obtains the harvest.

We don't try to make just Christians, or people saved by the skin of their teeth but disciples, truly dedicated 100% willing to surrender all to Jesus. We are to make Disciples, period. While we are to reach, love and serve the poor among others, (Jesus ministry was not only to the poor) his final words commanded us prior to departing this earth was to make disciples. It is our belief at Mosaic that while our primary area of ministry is to the poor, including the homeless, that does not negate the demand and command of Jesus, that we make disciples among all people.

There are other things I used to be, a lifeguard, a factory worker, a construction worker, a carpenter, a football player, a soccer player.  I worked and did pretty well in the music business and in the world of psychiatric mental health rehabilitation.  While those are experiences and parts of me I am appreciative of, have learned from, is still a part of me, they are not the all of me.

Oh yeah there is something else I am besides all of this, something many of those in ministry seem to forget about, I am a father and a husband. If those aren't my first callings or priorities to ministry and I believe the first callings for all of those in ministry, then the ministry one is involved in is not the ministry God has endorsed.  Think about it, pray about it, search scripture for the truth on it. On those matters of Biblical truth, I will not compromise. It is not always easy but if I can't love and serve my own wife and children, how can I really love and serve those I have come into contact with in my "ministry" life?   Let all of us totally surrender to Jesus, not the things we have heard about Jesus, but the Jesus we see in scripture, his life, his example, let us be the people, doing the things, that God has called us to, not our opinions, not our feelings, but God's callings.

To see the following video, simply click on video, if the video doesn't appear, click on the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXzjLUN6Fd0

The Virtual Pew and our other work is supported solely by the kind contributions of others. You can click on the donate button below to give any amount to this work that does so much more than just post articles on the net; I draw no ongoing salary from the church I pastor, Mosaic Wichita which is predominantly a homeless church; I am grateful for any small amount you can contribute to help with this ministry.  Believe me there is much more going on than most realize. I will also provide information to verify the ministry and income that comes into this ministry and work.  Thanks and feel free to share any material from The Virtual Pew, I only ask that appropriate credit is given and a link to the original site with the materials provided.

Click here to read about, and order the book, The Keystone Kid 

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There are hundreds of postings so make sure to check out the archives. You can also contact me for a free audio book link of The Keystone Kid at mike@furches.org You can visit http://www.thevirtualpew.com/.

Hopefully you will consider a gift to The Virtual Pew.

Now I get asked this quite often, Can we repost your blogs or articles? The short answer to that is, what an honor that you would ask, and by all means, spread the word. Here is our contact information

The Virtual Pew
1249 N. St. Francis
Wichita Kansas, 67214
Email: mike@furches.org

Click on the following links to learn more about The Virtual Pew

Donations to The Virtual Pew

The Virtual Pew Blog

Personal Furches Web Site

Hollywood Jesus

Reviews With Mike

The Virtual Pew Sermons

The Virtual Pew News



The Virtual Pew Live Radio Web Page