the refuge

   Dear Friends and Supporters,

                          Greetings, and peace to you. I hope and pray that all is well with you. This is going to be a short newsletter. Many things have been going on with the Refuge and it’s ministries. We are still in the process of trying to reorganize our advocacy and outreach efforts to the street homeless, and will be coming up a new outreaches very soon in relation to that. Additionally, we have been reorganizing our recovery houses and counseling to the addicts and alcoholics. Our intentional communities in St. Pete and Tampa have been going very well. But, unfortunately our Tampa Church plant and outreach called FAVOC has had to shut due to lack of finances and support. We will be reorganzing to it to reopen at a later date. Our outreach to troubled street youth continues through CRYS. We are also gearing up for the Cornerstone Festival in ILL. and will hopefully be bringing about 15 people this year. In order to go, we hope to raise about $3250 to finance trip for the mostly troubled youth, low income youth and low income families we will be bringing. I will also be teaching at an institute this summer on a “Theology of Poverty”.
                          Along with all this news, I must also share some sad news. Recently, a young man that we have worked with for years, who recently lost contact with us and never responded to our attempts a contacting him, killed himself. His family called us to visit him in the hospital the other day and he passed on from his wounds about 8 hours later. Please pray for this family and us we prepare to set up a funeral for him.
                         In closing, please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. We are continuing to run a short fall every month due to a downturn in giving due to the economy. We are running short by $1700 every month. If you would please consider giving regularily or adding more to what you give that would be greatly appreciated. We have an immediate need of $1250 to raise in the next week. If you can help, it would be greatly appreciated. All gifts can be sent to The Refuge at 1818 29th Ave. North, St. Petersburg, Florida 33710. If you have any questions, please call me or email me at bgcwright@aol.com. Thank you.

As many reflect this day on the death of a true prophet in our modern/postmodern age, I must ask, we must ask, are there still people willing to speak to truth to power? I would say a resonding yes! But, it seems in the time we live in that too many who call themselves Pastors or Ministers, or religious leaders would rather play to the whim of those in power, or their largest congregational donors. Now more than ever we need more men and women, with conscience, that truly are motivated by the Divine Creator, by the prophetic message of Jesus, to take a stand. To be true prophets and not motivated by profit (Mammon). God bless those with courage like Rev. Jeremiah Wright who speak the truth, however painful it may be to some. It is my hope and prayer that I will always be true to that and that Refuge would be also, no matter what the cost. Many wonder why the Refuge seems to always be struggling financially and why I sometimes struggle emotionally, spiritually, and financially. I am no great person or “spiritual giant”, but I do know the Gospel compels me and all others who would follow Jesus to speak truth and promote the Gospel of Peace. Shame on me and any one else who does not. Martin Luther King Jr. was truly a prophet that was murdered by those in power for his messsage. May we all be inspired by that! More to come from the struggle for the Kingdom of Love, peace, and Justice …………………….. Bruce