New Free Store in Evart provides inviting atmosphere for all

The Intersection Free Store opened on Jan. 8 in Evart, Mich.

By RJ Walters, Editor

When three United Methodist Churches heeded God’s call, an intersection of community and charity was created on U.S.-10 in Evart, Mich.

The Intersection Free Store celebrated its grand opening on Jan. 8 by providing 475 pieces of clothing to more than 50 families — a fitting declaration for a ministry that has been a long time coming.

Local pastor Joe Beavan said several guests asked for prayer and others shed tears of joy at the reality of being able to take home bags of new and like-new clothes.

“When a young girl comes in and is basically in tears talking about how her family has lost almost everything due to job loss and what a blessing it is to be able to come in and get her children some much-needed clothes, that’s a wonderful thing,” he said.

Beavan started his three-point charge at Sears UMC, Brooks Corners UMC and Barryton Faith UMC in January 2010. Soon after he was inspired to consider his part in “changing the world” after hearing Ginghamsburg UMC’s pastor, the Rev. Mike Slaughter, speak about local and world mission at Bishop’s Day in Mt. Pleasant.

“I felt like, ‘Hey maybe we could do something, but I don’t know,’” he said. “So I prayed about it and read his book (Change the World) and God just started opening one door after another.”

Behind those initial doors were familiar faces from his years as a member of Cornerstone UMC in Caledonia, including the Rev. Brad Kalajainen and Director of Outreach Tracy Bowers.

Beavan said Cornerstone provided his churches with seed money for the store and implemented plans to receive donations from its congregation.

“Tracy said, ‘Hey, we even have an extra trailer,’ and I thought, wow, that’s pretty convenient,” he said. “So they use the trailer at their donation site down there and when it’s full we go down and get it.”

After searching long and hard, Beavan stumbled on a vacant hair salon that he insists “God was right in the middle of” because of its “perfect space and size” and the fact it could be had for a good value.

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How the Holy spirit used silver coins and open hearts in one West Michigan UMC

By RJ Walters, Editor

If a teenager is handed $5 without any directives, it’s a pretty good bet it’s going toward a double cheeseburger or enough gas to get them to a friend’s house.

But as Betsy Marvin of Cornerstone UMC in Caledonia will affirm, if a teen is handed five bucks and told to ask God for directions, the possibilities are incalculable.

On the heels of a church-wide campaign, Marvin created a “Pay It Forward” mission for the Cornerstone youth groups — and the power of the Holy Spirit was visible in major ways.

Based around the parable of the master giving his servants “talents” to invest, Marvin gave each high school student five silver dollars, with the stipulation that they spend 20 minutes in listening prayer.

Marvin said there is a lot of power in simply asking God questions and clearing your mind and heart to seek answers.

“I read a book called God’s Guide, written by Mary Geegh who was a missionary to India in like the (1940s) and she practiced listening prayer,” she said. “So when I read hear book I thought, we just have to try this and figure out how to do this and listen to God for answers instead of just shooting in the dark.”

It took some students several weeks to discern a call, while others received answers more quickly.
Briana Hutchinson thought she knew what to do with the money right away, but it took a little while for it to come into complete focus.

“(She) really wondered if what she heard from God was right, because she was told to go buy a Bible — and she thought Bibles cost more than five dollars, so this can’t be,” Marvin said. “When she was at school it really bugged her. Should I have bought a Bible, should I not? God just show me the person who needs a Bible and I’ll go buy it.”

Then one day she was in the library and had a conversation with a boy who was going through a tough breakup — and that’s when she realized he was the person she needed to help.

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