"Count It All Joy" explores developing faith through adversity.  Anya Mitchell, owner of the successful financial planning firm Mitchell & Associates, has signed her company's largest contract. Engaged to be married, she and her fiancee, Braxton Vance, have made a vow to abstain from sex until marriage.  One night, while working late, she is raped and left to die. She tries to find comfort and solace in God and Braxton, until she is forced to realize the only thing she can count on is the Word of God in action.

Ambassadors of Memphis, Inc. strive to support small business owners as well as promote Bible principles in business.  AOM decided to sponsor this faith based film in the On Location: MEMPHIS International Film and Music Festival as a way to support Leo Hall Productions, a small business, and provide a unique way to present God's Biblical principles for life.  Join us April 21, 2012, at 12:00pm at Ridgeway Four, 5853 Ridgeway Center Parkway, Memphis, TN 38119, as we enjoy this movie and then briefly discuss the situation and issues raised in the movie with radio personality, Sherry Mackey and director, Leo Hall.  Individual tickets will be available on Malco Theatres' website or you may go to www.onlocationmemphis.org for more information on purchasing festival passes.  

Every year AOM strive to give $100 gift cards to families that could use a little help during the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday.  Thank you to Women. Identity. Purpose for Co-Sponsoring the giveaway this year.  Our 2011 Recipients are as follows:

One Sunday night I had a very interesting dream.  In my dream there was a baby that had been abandoned by his parents.  I took the baby in to care for him.  I tried to get my friends to help me take care of the baby, but no one could see the need for the effort except me.  So, I committed to take care of the baby by myself.  The dream stuck with me and I wondered about its meaning.

That week Uncle Bro was undergoing outpatient surgery and would be staying at Aunt Dorothy’s house for a few days.  By this time Uncle Bro had joined my church, rededicated his life to Christ, was no longer drinking any alcohol and living a healthy life.  Wendell, Uncle Bro’s boss, had offered him a full time job as the morning cook for Donnellson’s Catering.  Uncle Bro would start the new position the next week after his surgery.

By Friday, Uncle Bro was feeling better and decided to work a catering job with Wendell that Sat.  Sunday morning Uncle Bro called me.  He wanted me to come by the house and pick up his tithes and offerings to turn in for him.  He was not going to church that day, opting to stay home and rest after working hard on Sat.  He was still not 100% after the surgery.  He was to start working the full time position on Monday, and he wanted to be rested for that.  That Sunday night I had another dream about the baby.  However, in this dream the baby died.  No matter what I did I was not able to save him.

That Monday morning, I received a call from Kim Donellson.  Uncle Bro had not shown up for work and not called.  It was going on 11:00AM and that was not like him.  They thought I should go and check up on him.  I immediately left my office and headed to Uncle Bro’s house.  I called Aunt Dorothy on my way there.  She said she would come as well.  I was the first person to arrive.  I had a key to the house so I knocked on the door and then let myself in.  I could hear Uncle Bro’s radio playing gospel music in his bedroom.  I called his name several times, but there was no answer.  In the hallway there was a chair with clothes laid across it where Uncle Bro was drying them with the floor furnace in front of his bedroom door.

I opened the door and called his name.  Uncle Bro was laid face up on the side of the bed.  I could tell he was dead.  His dog, Mojo, was in the room with him and the radio was still playing.  I told Mojo to come on and we went outside.  I just broke down and cried.  I tried to call 911, but my phone would not work.  So, I called my friend Karen who was substitute teaching that day.  She contacted the police and gave them the information.  A few minutes later Aunt Dorothy drove up.  She said she thought Uncle Bro might be dead, and was trying to contact me to tell me not to go in the house until she got there.  It was Feb. 13, the day before Uncle Bro’s birthday.

That evening Aunt Dorothy told me that she had visited Uncle Bro Sunday evening.  She said they had a very nice visit.  Aunt Dorothy wanted to help him decorate the house.  It was coming up on a year since he moved in and when he started the new position on Monday he would be making enough money to cover all the expenses of the house.  He invited her to diner on his

Birthday, which would be Tuesday, Feb. 14.  He was going to take her out, on him, as a thank you for all the years of support.

It had been a few months since Frasier had passed away, so Aunt Dorothy asked Uncle Bro if he would get another roommate.  He told her no.  He wanted to do for someone else what I had done for him.  He was going to find someone who was ready to turn their life around.  He was going to allow them to stay in the extra bed room for one year and he would pay all the expenses.  He wanted to make them an offer from God, to come back home.

When I spoke those words to Uncle Bro, I thought God wanted him to come back to the family of Christ.  That He wanted me to help Uncle Bro so that we could start this great ministry together.  I would give him the financial support while he was able to reach the unsaved or back slider for Christ.  In reality, God knew that this was going to be Uncle Bro’s final year on earth and He was giving him one more chance to make it home.  It was also my test in obedience.  I was saying that all I had belonged to God, this experience allowed me to put my words in action.  Although, I was sad to see Uncle Bro go home to Glory, I am proud that God allowed me to be used in His plans.

To me, this is what ministry is all about.  Those of you who have read the story of Uncle Bro’s House, I pray that when God tell you to do something that sounds a little unreasonable that you remember this Blog and make the Life Choice.

The End…

By: Angela Green
      Founder
      Ambassadors of Memphis

After Frasier passed away several of Uncle Bro’s friends asked to move in with him.  They could see the changes in him and I suspected they were looking for a change in their own lives.  Uncle Bro was very particular about who he would allow to move in with him.  I told him he did not have to get a roommate.  I would be there to help always.  After some consideration he told me that he wanted to live alone for while. 

 

I never really visited Uncle Bro much, even after he moved into the Lakeview House.  The last time I remember just hanging out at Uncle Bro’s house was this one summer when he picked my sister and I up for an afternoon visit.  I don’t remember much about the visit except that he took us to get something to eat and then we hung out at his apartment until Aunt Dorothy came to pick us up.  I believe that was during the time that he was a faithful member of his church and had a nice job.

After Uncle Bro moved into Lakeview, I remember the moment things changed.  I remember that it was the night of the Super Bowl.  I was invited to a Super Bowl party at Club Emotions on Brooks Road.  The club was right around the corner from Uncle Bro’s house on Lakeview.  I am not really a club person and the smoke was getting the best of me.  At half time I told my friend that I needed to go and check up on my Uncle.  He was preparing to have surgery in a couple of days.  When I arrived, Uncle Bro was watching the game in his room.  He told me to come on in and pull a chair in his room to watch the half time show.  I got the chair, took off my jacket and shoes and propped my feet up.  He told me to bring some chips and drinks from the kitchen for us to snack on.  Uncle Bro had this gallon jug of water next to his bed.  He told me he had to drink it all before the surgery.  We laughed because every few minutes he had to get up to go to the bathroom.

After the game was over I got up to leave.  When I was driving home I realized that was the first time since I was a little girl that felt comfortable spending time at Uncle Bro’s house.  It was a feeling that brought a smile to my face.     

To Be Continued ....

By: Angela Green
      Founder
      Ambassadors of Memphis