Alpha Goombi wanted to be the first Native American actress to win an Academy Award. I wasn't surprised at all to learn this about her. As I experienced her presenting an incredibly dramatic moving production in her full native American regalia I was blown away by her intensity and talent.

You see, Alpha and I have shared the platform at women's conferences, and shared time together in my home as she and her husband Ron visited our church for missions conferences.

Alpha received Christ when she was 27 years old. She grew up in a family that endured many of the same difficulties lots of Native American families deal with also -- obstacles like sexual abuse, poverty, alcohol and prejudice.

"I had a very painful life before my conversion, and I am able to share truthfully with people who are lost and hurting," I heard Alpha say during one of our first conversations. "I want to serve God because of what He's done in my life."

And that is exactly what she does in Omaha Nebraska, along with her husband Ron and their boys, as missionaries to the Native American community.

A few weeks ago, I received a troubling phone call.

" Did you hear about Alpha?" My friend's voice questioned.

"No, what happened?" My friend had few details. She knew just enough to make my heart begin to break. I immediately called Alpha to find out what happened.

"Oh, Alpha... I just heard the worst news. Please tell me it's not true."

"It's true," she said and then told me the awful story.

Her father, Billy Evan Horse, was in a truck, driving just a few cars in front of the mini-van that carried her (Alpha's) mother, her sister Helen, and her 17 year old cousin, Rose.

The Oklahoma rain had been falling and the flood waters had risen dangerously high. Alpha's father's truck was washed into a guardrail, where it got stuck. He tried to warn the oncoming mini-van to stop, but the women in the van didn't see the signal to stop and continued to drive, passing her frightened Father.

The van got caught up in the current, and was washed into a pond, where it was submerged. The three women tried to get out. When they realized they were trapped, they embraced in the back seat of the van where they died together.

Alpha told me the story as we talked on her cell phone. She and Ron were on their way to the funeral. The sadness I felt for Alpha and her father was overwhelming. The respect I have for Alpha as a faithful woman of God is also overwhelming. Alpha has endured sorrows and disadvantages in life that many would have allowed to discourage them. Many have turned their back on their faith for far lesser tragedy than Alpha has been through.

My friend Alpha Goombi may not be the first Native American actress to win an Academy Award, but she will most certainly receive a reward that poverty can't penetrate, storms can't wash away, and tragedy can't touch. Our Faithful God keeps His eyes on His faithful children... and Alpha is one of them.

You be faithful too. Be encouraged today, my friend. Pray for those who are in pain. Be faithful to love God and trust Him even with the disappointments.

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

Blessings and Joy,
Jennifer Rothschild
Author of Lessons I Learned in the Dark (and Light), and Founder of WomensMinistry.NET

This fun idea was originally published in Issue 183 in September of 2003. It was sent in by Cheryl Davis of First Baptist Church, Lilburn, GA.

Mission/Event Idea: Treasure Auction

Purpose: To donate the money we raised for a mission project to make quilts for the homeless.

What we did: We advertised the event and asked the women of our church to bring treasures from home. At the auction we served cookies, coffee and tea and one of our women was the auctioneer. We had someone give a devotional on storing treasures in heaven (Matthew 6). It was a very fun night buying each others junk, (oops, I mean treasures!) and knowing the money was going to a worthwhile cause.

You're invited to be in the studio audience when Jennifer Rothschild talks about her new book Self Talk, Soul Talk on the LIFE Today television show with James Robison Tuesday, September 11 at 7 pm. Tickets are free... but you must reserve your seat. To do that, call 817-354-3655 or e-mail audience@loi.org. The studios are located just minutes from DFW International Airport at 1801 West Euless Boulevard, Euless, Texas 76040.

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We are a from a small community in the most Northern part of NY state. It gets cold up here but each year we welcome our community and surrounding communities in for a winter clothing giveaway.

We collect winter clothing within the church, then set a day that is well advertised for the clothing to be distributed.

People are welcome to come and take whatever they can use. They are not required to give their names, but we do ask them to write where they are from and how many people they are getting clothing for.

We provide information about the church and salvation.

The program has been very well received. When we started it, we planned to hold it every other year, but because of the overwhelming response, we now do it yearly.

Submitted by Dianna of First Christian Church, Brushton, NY

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