Tampa, FL. A divine appointment led Pastor Charles Patrick and Carl Lammers to meet and subsequently to appeal to the Knox Board of Directors to finance and to plant an Alpha Course at Christlike Ministries in a process where Carl will “train the trainers” over 12 weeks. The leadership training and Alpha Course at Christlike begins in January 2012. Pray that each soul which passes through Christlike Ministries discovers the power and peace offered by Jesus. But there is much more to the story. This is a congregation that is positively solar hot for the gospel.
Christlike Ministries Pastor Charles Patrick knows heaven and hell, life with Jesus and life without. The latter led him to prison and spending nights under a freeway overpass. The former led him to personal renewal and a rewarding profession as a “tent making” pastor on fire for the Lord. A certified HC/AC repairman by day, Charles pastors on lunch hours, nights, weekends and vacations at Christlike Ministries, a lively congregation of 100 adults and children who worship together on Wednesdays and Sundays. Christlike is engaged in full spectrum outreach which includes 40 men in a homeless shelter located above the sanctuary and across the street in a small churched owned home. “The program” as it is called, includes many from Florida correctional institutions and has a waiting list. Probation officers love the program because the process begins with a commitment to know Jesus followed by “nuts and bolts” evangelism and discipleship, restoration and work toward independence. The living spaces are compressed but have Air Force barracks-like cleanliness. The kitchen passes all local health inspections in spite of the grueling schedule of three meals seven days week, 52 weeks per year. The men will repair the leaky roof and will work with Habitat for Humanity to expand the living quarters to relieve overcrowding and to include women in the program. But who will help Charles with expanding Christlike’s evangelism training? Help finance Sunday School materials? Buy the Bibles for new believers? Enter Knox Fellowship, committed to evangelism and discipleship, and completing the Kingdom of God.
