We see it all around us: Poverty. Unemployment. Crime. Hopelessness. Anger. Disenchantment. Injustice. We want to help. We want to do something. But what? Good intentions are good, but often our efforts at helping others can actually make things worse. And in many communities the church is viewed with suspicion, if not downright hostility. So how can churches effectively serve the needs of their communities in ways that communicate the love and grace of God? According to author Laurie Beshore, churches need to step up and take action, but it all begins by learning. You must get to know the people in your community and establish relationships built on mutual trust and respect. This ebook recounts the compelling twenty-five year story of how Mariner’s Church, a growing mega-church in Irvine, CA, began reaching out to their community and how they made more than their fair share of mistakes along the way. But these hard-earned lessons are now of immense value to a new generation of church leaders trying to serve their own communities that are skeptical, if not understandably suspicious, of the intentions of the 21st century church. Laced with ultra-practical teachings and transferable principles for churches and ministries of all sizes and styles, this is a book filled with potent lessons and powerful stories both heartbreaking and inspiring.

Most people imagine "home" as a safe, warm place with four walls. But for child refugees Lam and Dee Dee escaping Vietnam, "home" is ever-changing and often doesn't have any walls at all. "A moving and thought-provoking picture of a refugee experience filled with both tragedy and hope."--School Library Journal Eleven-year-old Lam escapes from Vietnam with Dee Dee during the Vietnamese Boat People Exodus in 1979, when people from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fled their homelands for safety. For a refugee, the trip is a long and perilous one, filled with dangerous encounters with pirates and greedy sailors, a lack of food and water, and even the stench of a dead body onboard. When they finally arrive at a refugee camp, Lam befriends Dao, a girl her age who becomes like a sister-a welcome glimmer of happiness after a terrifying journey. Readers will feel as close to Lam as the jade pendant she wears around her neck, sticking by her side throughout her journey as she experiences fear, crushing loss, boredom, and some small moments of joy along the way. Written in verse, this is a heartfelt story that is sure to build empathy and compassion for refugees around the world escaping oppression.

The love of God crosses all boundaries. Every. Single. One. Every day, millions of people lament the loss of civility, respect, and hope, and they wonder if it's possible to cultivate a love big enough to overthrow hate and heal our hurts. With courage, authenticity, and relevance, Jacqueline A. Bussie proclaims, "Yes! It's possible!" and urges readers to widen love's wingspan and to love as God loves--without limits or exceptions. In Love Without Limits, Bussie imparts practical solutions for people of faith who yearn to love across division and difference in these troubled times. Through poignant personal memoir, engaging theological reflection, inspiring true stories of boundary-busting friendships, creative readings of scripture, and surprising shout-outs to some of love's unsung heroes, Bussie challenges readers to answer God's call to practice a love so deep, it subverts the social order; so radical, it scandalizes the powerful; so vast, it excludes no one. "A must-read for all Christians interested in inclusivity for their communities." --Publishers Weekly

Back on Valinor, faced with the news that Caspar has poisoned her planet, and everyone and everything will soon die, Akacia must keep it together for those who are left. Akacia and Everleigh are forced to deal with evil people, illness, and survival. When given the opportunity to find a cure for her planet, Akacia jumps at the chance to go with her lover, Everleigh, to a dangerous world in hopes to get the cure and return home. All does not go as planned. **This book is an LGBTQ sci-fi story with a female/female relationship.**

Discover the Power of Infinite Compassion Imagine an existence filled with boundless love--a love so profound it echoes the divine. Love Without Limits: Following Jesus' Example of Sacrifice guides you through the transformative journey of loving as Jesus did, without conditions or boundaries. It inspires you to delve deep into the essence of sacrificial love and extend it to everyone, including the most challenging people in your life. This compelling read ignites the flame of divine love in your heart, illustrating not only the beauty of God's love for us but also how we can reflect that love in the world around us. With each chapter, you'll be drawn into an intimate exploration of wholehearted devotion, forgiveness, and the art of compassionate empathy. You will learn the paradox of giving and find inspiration in modern tales of individuals embracing daily acts of selflessness. Step-by-step, this book shares practical advice for deepening your spiritual connections and enriching your relationships. It dives into the Scriptures and unearths the deep roots of self-sacrifice found both in the Old and New Testaments. Moreover, it presents you with present-day saints--ordinary people who demonstrate extraordinary love. As you move through the chapters, each page challenges you to love your neighbor, forgive unconditionally, and bravely love your enemies. It looks at family as the cradle of sacrificial love and the church community as a haven for sharing burdens. You'll confront difficult concepts like suffering and discover how it can be embraced as a part of God's loving plan. Every aspect of this book--from prayer, service, and charity to the ultimate sacrifice of love--is a call to action, encouraging you to step into the world with a heart ready to love without limits. Embark on this life-changing journey and seal love within your heart, offering a testimony of hope that seeks to uplift not only your spirit but those around you.

LOVE UNLIMITED... They were from different worlds in the midst of a war that should have torn them apart. But after everything is over, can love conquer all? Aja and her people, the Empaths, have become casualties in an intergalactic war. When Aja is captured, she vows never to become a sex slave. But she must bide her time before she can escape her reluctant captor, no matter how sexually tempting he is. Anansi has been ‘gifted’ a beautiful gabra or sex slave, who he finds hard to resist. He keeps her captive to protect her from being enslaved by anyone else. But the longer his gabra, Aja, is with him, the harder it is for him to fulfill his destiny. Will he choose love or his legacy?