Grace, and peace be multiplied to you dear Livingsong family,

We will definitely cover the details behind our “LET’S GO” banner above, but first, we want to start off with this amazing praise report!  If you recall, back in our February newsletter, we asked for prayers during our preparations for a chapel service we scheduled at a homeless shelter (Trinity Rescue MIssion) in Jacksonville on April 21st.  Our mission was to arrive at the shelter with donations of clothing for men, women, and children experiencing homelessness. Also and most importantly, to share the powerful message of the Gospel with those who arrived at the shelter for the night.  As in all we do for each service, much preparation goes into coordinating with the appropriate shelter staff members for clearance and permission for this, and the necessary space to setup a chapel service.  Through your monthly support, we are also able to provide Bibles freely to anyone who asks for God’s word, and before we left, our box of Bibles was emptied... praise God!   Before arriving in Jacksonville for this service, we first went to our friends at First Baptist Church of Boulougne in Hilliard, FL to pick up donations they had graciously permitted us to gather.  Also, one of the elders of the church, Neal Cochrane, offered to transport the donations to the shelter with us.   The day before the service, we spent a few hours organizing donated clothing into containers and moving them into the trailer Neal loaned us. The next day (April 21st) we all met up at the shelter and in total delivered 3500 articles of clothing!!  We are so grateful for our faithful ministry partners, Bro Paul & Tracy Lucas, Michelle Link, Patti Gumerson, Pastor Dennis & Tamara Jones, Pastor Andrew Delong, Doran Edwards, Elena Morse, David Geyer, Bob Sofronski, Barbara DuBrul, Pat Smith, Nona McCrary, Roberta Renk, Kelly & Kyle Pryce, and volunteers, Neal & Marty Cochrane.  You all enabled us to bring the light of Christ to this community.  We believe our God is a God of miracles, and no one is too lost that cannot be saved.  There is always hope with God.  “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ “ (Acts 21:35)

Thanks be to God for the fruitful, spirit-filled ministry month of April.  Along with the chapel service highlighted in this newsletter, services at the recovery programs and shelters in Melbourne, Titusville, Orlando, Palm Coast, and Deltona, were all equally as important.  While in Jacksonville we also were filled with gratitude to lead a chapel service at the residential recovery program and shelter, the City Mission. Personally, it was so encouraging to see the participation of the leaders fully involved in the service and lifting up the name of Jesus with us in worship.

Every door that opens for us to share Christ is a blessing. We believe effective ministry can be possible when prayerful and faith led preparation goes into each opportunity the Lord provides.  Our banner “LET’S GO” is the announcement for just that, planning for the ministry ahead. Help will most definitely be needed starting in August, and we are inviting like-minded musicians, and tech savvy individuals who feel the Lord's calling and are moved by God's incredible love.  There are so many elements that make it necessary for the participation of a team, so very soon we will be sharing a short video of our projected route on our social media platforms.  Travel, lodging, and food can also be arranged if you are willing and able to serve with us multiple days. You are welcomed to view dates as they are posted on our website at www.livingsongministry.com, but please also feel free to send us any questions.

In trusting our God who saves, we believe only Jesus can free anyone enslaved to the enemy’s lies which lead many to destructive behaviors. Sadly, this is also happening to not all, but some leaders in the church today across denominations. As members of one body, with grace, we must call for accountability in God's house, even when others are not. If we fail to do so, God will use those outside the church, as it seems to be in recent secular media reports and documentaries exposing the sexual allegations, mismanagement of church funds, and other disheartening reports several of well known church leaders have been charged with.  Dear family, let's please remember what the Apostle Paul instructed in his epistle to the Ephesians in 5:11. "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them."  When a church is too preoccupied with worldly methods of attracting the unsaved, and our leaders begin to sound from the pulpit more like motivational speakers rather than men of God called to simply preach the Bible, it is time to display our love for the church through admonishing.  This is a controversial topic indeed and understandably for many of us uncomfortable to address.  We understand and intercede for you in prayer, that you may be empowered by the Holy Spirit to boldly speak His light into the darkness.  Perhaps it may not be in your church, but something may be going on at home, or in your loved ones lives, but you have held back saying what you know needs to be said.   Let the word of God be your voice always, to shine the light of Christ into every dark area so that the enemy may flee in Jesus name.

So what's next?

We are currently in Vero Beach to serve with our friends at Camp Anderson! This is their first year having camp at an enormous property in Vero, and we have come to assist our friend and new camp worship leader "Bless".  Here is a special photo from 2020 when he baptized our niece, Kyara.

We are excited for the opportunity to lead worship with our friends and participate in what God has in store for the youth that will be attending. Special thanks to the director, William Bloodworth, who was gracious enough to permit us to park our RV on property with utilities, along with providing additional lodging while we assist the worship team.  Due to our ministry schedule and the preparations needed as mentioned earlier for our gradual route to North Florida, we are not able to come on board as full-time staff like the team members and leaders here, but we feel blessed to still participate and support them as much as we can. If you haven't already, please connect with us on Instagram @livingsongministry to catch the fun videos and photos we will be sharing of camp soon!  Until next time, may “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”  (Numbers 6:24-26)

Have a blessed Memorial Day,

Manny & Erika Lynn Garcia

Livingsong 

501(c)(3) non profit ministry of A.C.T.Int'l

Donate - https://actintl.givingfuel.com/livingsong

 Prayer Requests

• Remembering the sacrifices made - Honoring America's fallen.  God lead our hearts towards compassion for our brothers and sisters who have lost their lives while serving in combat.  May we never forget!  We pray for Your comfort over all the families left behind.  May You grant them Your divine provision, peace, protection, and draw them to Yourself Father, in the name of Jesus our Lord we pray, Amen.

• Would you please pray with us for our dear friend and sister in the Lord, Tracy Lucas, as she and her family are mourning the loss of her father who went home to be with the Lord on Mother’s Day.  We love you Tracy and send you our love and deepest condolences. 

• Fervent prayers are greatly needed.   The senseless and demonic mass murder of 19 children and 2 adults at the Robb elementary school in Uvalde, Texas is beyond comprehension.  Scripture teaches us that “the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit,” (Psalm 34:18).  We seek comfort in this truth, for we know God dwells in the hearts of those who grieve.  

Praise Reports

• We are truly grateful and give God praise for our newest ministry partner, Nona McCrary.  We can’t thank you enough Nona, for joining our missional efforts to reach the least, the last, and the lost with the Gospel. 

• Your prayers were heard, dear brothers and sisters!  We give God all the praise and glory for the recent record breaking number of donations given so far to the unsheltered community in Jacksonville - 3500 clothing items for men, women and children!   

• There is no greater praise report to declare to all creation than Christ is Risen, amen?  Every year Easter is undoubtedly one of the two holiest dates on the Christian calendar.  We hope your Resurrection Sunday this past April was a time of reflection on the finished work of the cross through our Lord Jesus.  The cost was great, but "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16   That's a praise report worth sharing every chance we get! 🙌

Testimony

“It was awesome having Livingsong with us last week! We’re ready for them to come back already!” 

- Maribeth Motosicky (Recovery Church in Palm Coast)