A View From The Franklin Table...Life and ministry among the poor in Hard Bargain...in December is filled with great challenges and extreme joy!

Dear Table Nation,

Life and ministry among the poor in Hard Bargain...in December is filled with great challenges and extreme joy! I am still amazed each day at God's goodness and mercy. Please remember the needs of so many still hurting in the North East after Super Storm Sandy, you can check here .

Franktown Open Hearts is our focus ministry for the month. It’s a place where 'at risk' teenagers are cared for and given special attention in order that they experience the love of Christ! Please spend time in specific prayer for this wonderful work. Someone said that every person needs just one other human being that is 'head over heels' in love with them and that is what FTOHs does each day...love kids 'head over heals'.

That is something we all need. Also, this month has been a great time to be better educated in the reality of drug and alcohol dependency in our City and County. The 21st Drug Court is hard at work making sure those who are addicted find help and healing.  I also am reminded that Graceworks Ministries has their emphasis on gift giving and providing for the poor in full swing...at their facility off of Columbia Avenue.

I had a wonderful conversation this week at Empty Hands Fellowship with Luis Sura a Latino Pastor in Franklin who reminded me that most of the Hispanic brothers and sisters you meet here in our City primarily come from one town in Mexico. As we pray for these dear friends keep in mind the unusual needs they have working and living in a foreign land.

BTW, one of our longest and best friends who lives several doors down talked with me recently about prayer as the only answer to every need and she is someone in constant Spiritual battle over family issues just like you and me!

As we stood in her front yard it dawned on us that we had known each other since 1986, over twenty-six years. Our conversation about Jesus as the only answer to the recent craziness in Oregon, Connecticut, Wisconsin and just about everywhere else in the USA, reminded us we are in this life together! We were gratefully standing next to our rebuilt HB houses, thankful we owned property, thinking of our children and grandchildren who were educated in our wonderful school and that we had been helping each other find decent jobs over all those years and were now talking seriously about retirement knowing full well we both never would.

As we parted by setting a time to get together and pray for the needs of our neighbors I realized this is Community Development, real relationships among Jesus's followers! Beginning January 8^th The Franklin Table will be gathering for prayer on the second Tuesday of each month from 6:30-8:00p.m. at the Hard Bargain Community Center (608 Mt. Hope Street). Please mark your calendars and join us.

I am particularly thankful for my lovely wife Linda who has worked hard to keep the ministry of The Safe House going all these years. Many thanks also to my Advisory Board, Steering Committee and especially our donors. All of you make TFT the best ministry to work through and Hard Bargain...Franklin's best neighborhood to live in. I pray that you have a wonderful Christmas and a fruitful New Year!

Blessings and deep love as you remain close to Christ and the poor,

Scott

Rev. Scott Roley
Director, The Franklin Table
959 Glass Street
Franklin, TN 37064
 615-642-7428