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KEEP AUSTIN WARM
As Fall and Winter approach, we are thinking about the well-being of those living on the street. Our concern is greater this year,
as it is predicted that the Fall and Winter will be the coldest and wettest on record. As we have done for the last three years, we
are asking your help in collecting items to be distributed to those we serve.
This year’s initiative, Keep Austin Warm, will include two ongoing campaigns.
Reformation Celebration is already underway, as we begin collecting items to be distributed as soon as the weather turns
cold. Typically, the first cold front hits very close to Halloween. We hope to collect and distribute items like sleeping bags, blan-
kets, socks, hand and foot warmers, sweatshirts/hoodies, and winter hats and gloves.
December to Remember is also ongoing and helps us to prepare for our Christmas celebration and party on December
22nd. Because many of those we serve live on the street and are not surrounded by family, our goal is to offer them the joy
and hope that Christmas and the birth of our Savior fills us with each year. The items needed for this campaign is a bit larger,
but also includes the items from our first collection.
We hope and pray that you will walk alongside LINC Austin as we help to Keep Austin Warm this Fall and Winter and as we
strive to spread Christ’s love and hope. We hope that churches, schools, scout troops, families, and neighborhoods will come
together and help make a difference. If you are interested, please go to our website at the link below to get more info and to
check out our promotional materials that are ready for you and your group to download. If you are interested in participating,
we would ask your cooperation in contacting Haleh at [email protected] to be sure that the same items are not being
collected.
Authentic Relationships, Authentic, Community, Authentic Living
Fall 2015
Veni. Vidi. Amavi. I Came. I Saw. I Loved.
We are humbled to share that LINC Austin Staff is training two leaders to begin a
small group community, Amavi, with 2-4 female street youth. Our hope is to offer
holistic care, friendship, and community for these young ladies. The leaders are
finishing training, and are already building the foundation to build a strong support
community, including spiritual care for these young ladies. Eventually, the lead-
ers will also be working toward training/education for the ladies to create goods
(jewelry, candles, etc…) to be sold to benefit their futures. We hope that this will
help them toward self-sufficiency, while having a strong, faithful community walk-
ing alongside them. Please pray with us as God prepares to do wonderful things,
and for the future women that will join!
“In all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
Romans 8:37
Prayer Requests:
† L- That God would make Himself known
to her as she continues to struggle with
addiction and self-hatred. That God would
provide opportunities for our staff to reach
her.
† T- That criminal charges will be dis-
missed against him, so that he can contin-
ue on this path toward a brighter future.
That doors would continue to open for
housing and Medicaid benefits.
† A- That she continues to stay clean from
drugs and continues to ask questions about
Jesus.
† R- That she would continue to find peace
in the loss of her son. That she would con-
tinue to seek out God for that peace and
understanding.
† D- that she continues to find motivation
and joy in her work, and that her finances
begin to settle in.
† K- That our staff can continue to love and
minister to her, and that Jesus is able to
penetrate her heart. That she continue to
find hope as we work with her to get off the
street.
† Martin Middle School- that the admin-
istration, faculty and staff are blessed with
the support they need to reach out to the
students and families. That learning once
again becomes a joy and contagious on
campus. That our staff and volunteers can
continue to bless the staff, students, fami-
lies and community.
† Sadler Means YWLA- For Emily as
she steps in to assist with management of
our tutors and mentors, and that the transi-
tion is a filled with joy. That our mentors
and tutors are able to make natural and
authentic relationships with the students,
and that God is glorified through them.
One of our Amavi ladies, taking a step toward a better future, as she got a NEW Identification card for the first time in a long while!
Support LINC Austin
Please consider supporting LINC Austin financially. Your financial support helps us to reach our goals this upcoming year, and
continue ministry in the Austin Area.
Please support LINC Austin
through our website at:
www.lincuastin.org/donate
OR
Please send a check to: LINC Austin •
PO Box 16699 • Austin, Texas 78761.
(Donation Card is attached)
Over the last several years serving the street youth and homeless, we have
learned the importance of some of the most basic items that we often take
for granted. You know, by now, that hygiene kits, dental kits, snack kits,
and socks are general staples. But, one item in particular is asked for over
and over….THE T-SHIRT. We began brainstorming, and as we did, we
realized the actual need by doing the math.
LINC Austin serves more than 60 street youth and homeless monthly
So if each person we serve needs a new shirt every 2-3 days.
3 shirts/week
Multiplied by 52 weeks/year,
Equals 156 shirts/person/ year.
156 shirts multiplied by 60 individuals
EQUALS
9,360 shirts/year.
That number seemed overwhelming, but as we considered our network and our supporters, we realized that together we could make an impact on that
number. So, this summer, we launched SHIRT OFF YOUR BACK.
Our hope was that we would be able to collect enough shirts to help
us care for those we serve. But, we also wanted to for Christ to be present.
Then the verse we all know came to mind: Matthew 25, “….I was shivering and you gave me clothes…”.
So, our staff began praying and decided to launch SOYB during Glorybound week. We asked God’s Spirit to work in the hearts of His people, and we were not disappointed. As of October 1st , we have collected 2000+ shirts, and we still have more on the way. We asked and YOU responded! We have been so blessed to take out bags of shirts to those we serve and share them,
see the smiles widen, and then conversations are started.
God is so present, and we are humbled and overwhelmed by your support and generosity. We are spilling over with shirts, so much so that our larger partners are asking us to share our supply because their closets are empty. We praise God and rejoice
with you!
Shirt Off Your Back
Zion Lutheran Walburg Youth taking the shirts off their backs at Glorybound
This homeless gentleman commented on how
he liked Mike’s shirt. Mike’s response:
He took the shirt off his back and gave it to him!
Summer Mission Trips 2015
Our summer groups are always such a blessing. They give of their time and their energy to share life with those who
are most in need. They helped foster care children, the homeless on the street, and students, faculty and staff in
Austin ISD schools. They shared their faith with so many through the simple act of service, and by being God’s
hands, feet and voice to those who need hope. I cannot express our joy for the doors that were opened because of
their selfless acts. But many times, we receive more than those we serve. I share this part of an email from a mom
of one of our participants. “I was so pleased to listen to his stories and hear how moved he was by the entire
experience. Serving with you guys really touched his heart. I can see that the wheels are turning as he is still reflect-
ing on the past few days. So great to see his compassion for others shine through, especially in the teen years.” Our
prayer continues to be that God show us all how our passions and gifts can be used for His glory. We praise our God
for you every day!!
A Great BIG Thank You to our groups this summer! Epiphany Lutheran Church Pearland, Texas, , Good Shepherd Youth from Cedar Park , Faith Lutheran Youth, Georgetown,
Prince of Peace Lutheran Youth, Carrolton and Christ the King Lutheran Youth, Waxahachie!
Glorybound 2015
We are overwhelmed by the Glorybound participant’s generosity and humble serving hearts. During the Glorybound Conference, participants helped us launch our Shirt Off Your Back Campaign by taking the shirt off their back 378 times! Then, participants helped us assemble hygiene kits and dental kits (sponsored by Concordia Texas) during the Confer-ence at the Concordia University Texas and LINC Austin booths . Finally, Glorybound participants joined us for two days of service. Each group assembled 100 sack lunches, helped distribute the hygiene kits assembled at the conference, then spent time on the streets of Austin serving those LINC Austin cares for at Austin Resource Center for the Homeless. But, it is always more than just passing out sack lunches and hygiene/dental kits, it is about the relationships that are made. It
is about the broken giving hope to the broken. It is about the youth telling others that they are MARKED!.
During one of the service dates, as we were preparing to leave, one of the groups had been talking to an artist. One youth felt compelled to ask him a bold question. “Will you draw me something?”. The artist said, “Sure!”. She asked, “Can you draw me the most beautiful hands that you can draw?”. He was overjoyed and asked if he could put her name in the hands. To that she replied, “No, I want you to put your name in those hands. The hands are God’s and I want you to know that you are in His hands”. She continued, “We have been learning about how we are marked and about how God calls us by name”. Suddenly, he looked straight in her eyes and he started to cry. He was broken by the hope that was shared with him. God had not forgotten him and how God loves him. The group prayed over him. What a wonderful re-minder that regardless of our life journey, our past, present, and future, we are MARKED by God to serve others. We
praise and thank God for those who love Him and serve Him boldly!
Name:
Address
Phone # Email:
I would like support to LINC Austin with: Gift Amount: $
Please make checks payable to LINC Austin
Contact Us
LINC Austin
PO Box 16699
Austin, Texas 78761
Haleh Kersten
512-660-9144
Kevin Kersten
512-660-9134
Website:
www.LINCAustin.org
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LINC Austin
LINC Austin
PO Box 16699
Austin, Texas 78761
