Mark’s Story…..                        

I became aware of New Life For Girls about ten years ago.  Their praise team came to my church on a cold January day and shared the heart-wrenching stories of their lives.  I knew immediately this was a ministry that the Lord wanted my wife and I to support.  At once we began to support them financially, along with clothing, household goods, and food.  A few years later, a group of elders from my church visited New Life For Girls to see how we as a church could better support this wonderful team of devoted servants.

  When we were made aware of the constant need for building maintenance, several skillful members of our congregation came out to give a hand.  While I am not particularly gifted in the area of maintenance, I did notice a need on the property with respect to landscaping and decided that this was something I could handle as I am a horticulturalist and have been working in the garden business all my life.  Having retired a few years ago I have been able to expand my efforts to make New Life For Girls a more beautiful place by sharing some of God’s creations through improving the building landscapes.

Thus far this project includes numerous spring containers, wintergreen containers, a large landscape planting in front of the main dormitory with an installed sprinkler system, a prayer garden with a hand-made log bench, colorful annuals too numerous to count, all made more beautiful and healthy with truckloads of mulch!  Next spring my hope is to enhance the office building landscape and continue to find ways to make the grounds easier to maintain.

We all have gifts and talents; if we are to be obedient to the Lord we need to use them to build up “His Church”.  My gift happens to be a passion for plants, organizational skills, and the spirit of giving.  Giving back some of the gifts which I have been blessed with gives me tremendous joy.  It is so easy to give back to the women, children, and ministry servants at New Life For Girls.  When I show up, I am always rewarded with grateful, joyous smiles.  I see the Lord’s handiwork everywhere I turn. All To The Glory Of God!