I was at the VA (veterans hospital) today. Wait, let me back up.
Last week, I dropped off one of the church elders at the veteran's hospital in Johnson City. He had an infection in his spleen caused by complications from a previous surgery.
I called his room a few days later, but they had moved him to another room. I talked to the new room occupant for just a few moments. He said, "pray for me." And I did. But it seemed like something else was needed.
So, today I was at the VA hospital to pick up the church elder. His paperwork was still in process so it was going to take a while. What a beautiful opportunity to go visit the guy in his old room that requested prayer.
This room was one of those rooms that has the weird airflow. If you have something contagious, it stays in that room. They call those zero somethinerothers.
I went through the first door, but stopped at the second. I couldn't explain the hesitation, but it was there. I began to survey my surroundings and saw gloves, masks, and warning placards that were not there before. I felt strange, like I shouldn't be there, so I left.
A little later, a man from the Chaplain's group came to the church elder's room. His name is Charlie. He was working in an official capacity for the chaplain so I asked him some questions.
As it turned out, you can't just go visiting people at random. The good news is I can become a volunteer with the chaplain's group. That is in process. Pray with me about this.
Charlie has a ministry in Greeneville, just down the road from my church called Mountain Vision Ministries. It is a warehouse where food, clothes, and furniture are stored for people in need. For some of the people I have met with needs, I wish I would have met Charlie sooner!
I think Charlie is needing some help too. I'm not sure what my involvement with Charlie is going to be, so pray with me about this. I know that there are no "chance" meetings.
http://www.calvarygv.org/news/033009.php
Mt. Vision Ministries Forms to Aid Needy
The Greeneville Sun, March 30, 2009
By Nelson Morais
A new Christian benevolence ministry, or charitable organization, has been formed with the goal of meeting the basic physical and spiritual needs of people in the area.
Mt. Vision Ministries, located in a large storehouse at 155 Black Road just off of the Blue Springs Parkway, will officially open its doors Tuesday, April 7.
The nondenominational ministry has unofficially been operating during the last two years.
During that time, Mt. Vision Ministries has supplied beds, other furniture, clothing, appliances and a limited amount of emergency food supplies to those in need, primarily in Greene and Sullivan counties, according to ministry organizer Charlie Cornett.
EMERGENCY ITEMS
"We basically have household items that a person would need in an emergency," said Cornett. He runs Mt. Vision Ministries with his wife, Earlene.
Recipients must be referred by a church "or document their needs in other ways," Cornett said.
"We pray that the Lord will send us those He wants us to help," Cornett said.
On Friday morning, Ed Reynolds, a carpenter and volunteer at the Tabernacle Soup Kitchen, loaded an older model pickup truck with living room furniture, food, toys, children's clothing and baby clothes.
The items were for a young, single, pregnant mother with a small child who Reynolds had referred to Mt. Vision Ministries.
AIDS SINGLE MOTHER
Cornett said another woman on Friday stopped by to get food and clothes set aside for her.
He said he expected to deliver the following to her on Tuesday after she moves into an apartment: a sofa, love seat, dresser, cabinet, dining table and chairs, food, clothes, mattress and box springs.
The woman is a single mother living with two teenage sons, he said.
"She lost her job, was evicted from her apartment and lost her furniture she had been renting," Cornett recalled.
He added, "Today, the Lord gave her a job, furniture (supplied by Mt. Vision Ministries) and a new place to live -- all on the same day.
"I don't believe in coincidences," Cornett marveled. He added, "According to me, that was God's work."
"I don't believe it's Walmart's responsibility to care for the needy," said Cornett, adding, "As Christians, we're told by the Lord to do that."
Mt. Vision Ministries stores and then distributes items donated to it as needs arise.
Somewhat unusual for a benevolence ministry, otherwise known as a charity, is that it delivers items to the home of the person in need if no other transportation is available.
"We're beginning by establishing a benevolence ministry to meet physical needs" in order to "gain the trust necessary for us to minister to their spiritual needs," Cornett said.
STOREHOUSE
"We gave away donated items stored in our garage until we acquired the storehouse a year ago," which was also donated to the ministry, Cornett said.
The ministry is supported by individuals and churches, including Calvary Chapel Greeneville, Cedar Grove United Methodist Church, Grace Fellowship Kingsport and Denton Bible Church in Denton, Texas.
The ministry will initially be open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and other times by appointment. Cornett said he hopes to expand its hours as volunteers step forward.
The Cornetts grew up in Erwin and Banner Elk, N.C.
From 1975 to 1994, they lived in Montana.
They then moved to Denton, living there from 1994 until their move to Limestone in 2007.
He returned to this area two years ago as a missionary for Denton Bible Church.
Charlie and Earlene are domestic missionaries with Serve International.
Cornett said the couple purchased a home in Limestone because it is centrally located between Greeneville, Johnson City and Kingsport.
Mt. Vision Ministries is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation of Summit Leadership Foundation in Johnson City, he said.
MISSIONARIES TRAINED
Cornett said he received a lot of training before being sent to this area.
Opening a benevolence ministry in this area has been a dream of Cornett's for nine or 10 years, he said.
"Making this move was not a recent decision," Cornett said. "We have been planning a ministry in the Appalachian area for more than nine years." He added, "However, I realized that the gifts God had given me were not properly developed. To accomplish a task this big, I needed training." Before moving here, Cornett served in a lot of different capacities at Denton Bible Church.
He was educated in the Bible Training Center for Pastors program at Denton Bible Church, essentially getting seminary training without a degree being conferred on him.
His wife, Earlene, completed the Bible Training Center for Leaders at Denton Bible Church.
On Friday, a reporter saw food, as well as clothes, neatly folded and divided by type on shelves stacked over 15 feet high along one wall of the 1,650-square foot structure. The storehouse, with a ceiling 25 feet high, had several pieces of furniture and more clothes waiting to be sorted and stacked.
Mt. Vision Ministries is supported entirely by donations, including the items it distributes to the needy. It currently receives no state or federal grants, Cornett said.
FAITH-BASED MINISTRY
"It's a faith-based ministry with no denominational affiliation," Cornett said.
Mt. Vision Ministries assists residents of Greene, Hawkins, Sullivan and Washington counties, Cornett said.
"We hope to develop this ministry and other ways to reach the entire Appalachian Mountain Range in God's name and for His glory," Cornett said.
Cornett said that on Tuesday, April 7, the day it officially opens, the ministry will give away a wide variety of clothing to qualified people who have a need. The event will take place on the grounds of the ministry from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
To donate to the ministry or to seek help, call Cornett at (940) 368-4885.
