I closed Post 1 with a promise to explain GRM’s logo in the next entry. As mentioned before, there is a story behind this! While you read on, you might take an occasional glance at the logo. Most likely, by story’s end, you will be able to see how the symbolism in the logo matches our narrative.
In the beginning … and even before the story begins
It had been an exciting five years for Quercus Grove United Methodist Church in rural Switzerland County, Indiana. God’s assurance of provision and guidance had embodied their expanding food pantry ministry right from the start. It was not only a surprise to this congregation, numbering 30-some in membership, to be asked to provide the only food bank in the county, but also, it proved to be an amazing – and rewarding - stretch of faith to all involved. The two room church without plumbing turned into a multi-building site housing kitchen and bathroom facilities, modest warehouses, and a grocery free-store. South Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church supplied two portable buildings; food poured in from a variety of unexpected sources; and church members from other neighboring congregations helped during the monthly Food Pantry Sundays. The Feeding of the Multitudes gospel story took on deeper levels of revelation for the Quercus Grove faithful as their ministry grew far beyond expectation.
January 2001
Encouraged by such renewed energy and growth, a Conference Staff member and my District Superintendent invited me – as Quercus Grove’s pastor – to meet with them over dinner one wintry evening in January 2001. Basically, we met to talk about further outreach possibilities in the southeast corner of the State. During dessert, the lady turned to me and said, “Janet, you have lived in this area for quite a long time; and you have seen the riverboat casinos come. Have you heard any stories of persons who have been affected by problem gambling? Indeed, local talk contained this information and I shared a couple of the stories. Then she asked what has become known as …
THE question:
What are the churches doing about it?
In other words, what are the churches doing to reach out to persons
affected, directly and/or indirectly, by gambling addiction?
Although I could give examples of persons debilitated by compulsive gambling, I had no answer for her second question. Soon the two began talking about developing a new ministry – one that would reach out to problem gamblers and their loved ones. The more they talked, the quieter I became. Finally, my DS turned to me and announced:
“We even have a Director for this new ministry!
Although I found recovery stories from other addictions to be compelling, accounts describing compulsive gamblers repulsed me. That evening, it was my earnest hope that this dinner conversation would soon be forgotten, once we returned to our homes.
Instead, that snowy evening marked the beginning
The months following GRM’s official beginning, were filled with organizational steps and much learning about disordered gambling and recovery issues. Each step we took seemed like a crossroad, progressively moving us into ministry with hurting people, devastated by gambling addiction. During these initial steps, the personal motivation, that I was, at first, sorely lacking, began increasingly to build - to create and grow this unique ministry to problem gamblers and their loved ones.
Ahead of us and by our side, God
The Flames:
God’s Holy Spirit surrounds the path GRM continues to take
in reaching out
to problem gamblers and their families.
The Cross:
Christ’s love for all overarches
each
step of ministry we take,
crossroad we meet,
and decision we make.
Next Post: A Frontier Ministry!
For warning signs of problem gambling, visit our web site.
Rev. Janet Jacobs
Director, Gambling Recovery Ministries
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