TOGETHER WITH YOU, we're bringing people together in Rockwood to ensure that no one is invisible and that everyone has access to food, freedom, and forgiveness. TOGETHER WITH YOU, we envision Rockwood becoming a community of holistic prosperity where children are less vulnerable to being trafficked, adults do not want to traffic kids, and people are becoming followers of Jesus.
Our partner organization The Rockwood Community Development Corporation (CDC) was granted $7 million to buy a hotel in Rockwood which (starting THIS WEEK) is being run by the Rockwood CDC as a homeless shelter. Phase 2 (likely starting early 2022) will be Transitional Housing. Stay tuned for more of Scott's involvement with that.
Immediately after its purchase, the church leaders in Rockwood were offered a weekend opportunity for rest and refreshing at the hotel, as guests of the CDC. Brad and Lynn Ketch founded the CDC; Brad is pictured above, welcoming everyone). Brad cast his vision for the unity of God's people and for God using the church in Rockwood to help bring transformation to the community. Relationship-building, games, prayer and worship, and sharing meals together all helped further the efforts to building the unity that God has given us.
You can read more about this amazing opportunity by clicking here: https://rockwoodcdc.org/oregon-community-foundation-awards-nearly-7-million-to-rockwood-cdc-to-bring-critical-help-to-one-of-the-most-underserved-areas-of-multnomah-county/
Thanks to God providing through our government stimulus checks, we were able to afford a trip to Scotland to see some of our kids and all three of our grandchildren! It was the FIRST time Vicki and I were able to go TOGETHER, and it was the first time in 9 years that I (Scott) had been to visit.
It was fun playing games with the kids and grandkids, pleasurable eating Steve's good cooking (and homemade ice cream), meaningful to go to Aberdeen where Kyle and Olga live and go to school (and to have them come down to Stirling for a week), enjoyable to experience sunny weather with highs mostly in the mid-60's (while our friends and family in Oregon were melting under record highs), inspirational to see what great parents Kendra and Steve are, and it was just overall an amazing time of loving and laughing together!
The only thing that would have made it more perfect is if our other kids had been able to join us (though they did one time via Zoom, and we all played online JackBox games together).
Two days after returning to Portland from Scotland, I (Scott) boarded a plane for Macedonia to lead a Team Retreat for Gregor Menga, our dear brother and friend who met Jesus in Athens back in 1991. Since then he has planted a church in Albania, which continues to grow under leadership he mentored, and a church in Kosovo, which continues to grow under leadership he discipled. In Macedonia, they have not YET planted a church but have established an amazing cultural center in the city of Tetovo, which is reaching children and other people of influence (authors, actors, politicians, etc.).
This trip/retreat was originally planned for last year but COVID changed the timing, and a supporting church of Gregor's paid for my air travel.
Thank you for continuing to pray for Gregor's ministry and family, especially for his TWO college-age sons and their desires to pursue a college education.
J and C
It was such a GREAT encouragement for me to meet up with J and C during my layover in Austria, on the return trip from Macedonia! They came to the Lord as refugees in Austria back in 1987 and served the Lord in far east places for many years before moving back to Austria a couple of years ago. It did my heart good to hear of God's provision for them in so many different ways over the years--guidance, protection, finances, healing, a granddaughter, and a home and a community in Austria. They are wonderful examples to me of disciples who follow Jesus wherever He leads them!
On July 17th, we had a Celebration of Life service for Vicki's father (Scott Bilderback) who passed away back in February, but because of COVID restrictions, we could only hold a small graveside service for close family at that time. Many friends and family were able to gather this time at Fern Ridge Christian Church and sing hymns, tell stories, thank God for the impact of his life, and share lunch together. 45 of the guests came back to our house where we visited with each other the rest of the day and shared supper together. We are so grateful for the loving presence of all our friends and family who were able to make it, and so grateful for the privilege of having been impacted in many ways by this wonderful man of God. Thank you for continuing to pray for Vicki's mom Joyce and the rest of the family.
PRAYER REQUESTS * We will host our annual block party on August 28th. We missed it last year because of COVID. Please pray that people will participate and relationships will be formed and developed. We have several new neighbors, as well as older ones who have not had much (if any) contact with most neighbors in the last 18 months. * Please continue to pray for our church's short-term team that is PLANNING to serve the Helping Hands refugee ministry in Athens September 22nd (arriving there on the 23rd) and returning on October 9th. It looks like God has provided the funds that we need, and we praise Him for that. Thank you to those who helped. * There is a couple from California who will be staying with us July 30th-August 5th for the purpose of getting to know us and the ministry here better. They have already applied to, and been accepted by, One Collective with the purpose of joining and leading our team. They need more financial support before they can make the move. Please pray for God's financial provision for them. Vicki and I have been without teammates for 3 years now.
Scott has three YouTube Channels now (big deal)! If you visit them and click "subscribe" (you don't even have to watch them), it will help get them out to people who need the info on them. I am trying to add one video per week to each channel.
1, YouTube Channel #1, Parenting Matters With McCracken (applicable to parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, teachers, etc.): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaPAv4EZvuCAWuWC3h3BkJg
2. YouTube Channel #2, Marriage Matters With McCracken (applicable to people who already are married or who want to get ready for marriage some day):
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-bN1Y1fBq3JL9HdBXcwswg/videos
3. YouTube Channel #3, Story Time With Salty ("Salty" is my nickname at our church, and our Family Minister asked me to make this channel; it is made up of stories, parables, and illustrations that have a spiritual meaning)
Because of YOU, we are able to educate others about sex trafficking, help foster a collaborative spirit amongst churches in an at-risk community, disciple others who will disciple others, and take the Gospel to the nations! Thank you for allowing God to use your prayers and financial investments to help this happen!
Copyright © 2021 Scott and Vicki McCracken, All rights reserved. You are receiving this because somehow you connected with our life and/or ministry . Please let us know if you prefer to not receive these updates, or feel free to click "unsubscribe" at the bottom of this page. ** Team Ministry (https://onecollective.org/community/rockwood-usa) ** Family/Ministry (https://scottmccracken.wixsite.com/mysite) THANKS AGAIN FOR PARTNERING WITH US IN THE GOSPEL THROUGH YOUR PRAYERS AND/OR FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS! WE APPRECIATE YOU! Tax-deductible donations may be made to "One Collective" (with an enclosed note expressing your intended designation--i.e., "for Scott and Vicki McCracken's account"), and sent to: One Collective 2155 Point Boulevard, Suite 200 Elgin, IL 60123 For online giving, go to: https://give.onecollective.org/30US0203
Copyright (C) 2021 Scott and Vicki McCracken. All rights reserved.
Scott and Vicki McCracken
2225 SE 157th Ave.
Portland, Oregon 97233
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