I had lunch with Joel Harrison–director of the Atlanta Metro Baptist Association this morning.  We had a good time talking about reaching Atlanta for Christ.  I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to mobilize many more people through his contacts in the church community.

Worked on the newsletters.

Went to the mission at Azalea.  The kids helped me with the labeling.

Debriefed a lot of them about the immigration problems.  Some of them were really freaked out over it.  Especially the younger ones.  It’s so sad when they talk about their uncles being led off in handcuffs.

Peace.

I had a great time preaching at Glover Baptist church this morning.  I always enjoy being with that congregation.

I did my Prodigal Son story in African mode–like I did in Niger.  It was fun. Also spoke on missions in our area.

Kathy and I hung out at Stone Mountain.  Ran 4 miles and worked out on weights.

Worked on the DVDs for The Less band.  I hope that’ll help promote them.  They’re good lads with real talent.

Peace.

Ashley and I worked on the invitations for the banquet on May 5th and on our newsletter which is now ready to copy. It looks great! Ashley is really talented with this graphics design stuff.

Kathy and I had a terrific time this morning. We rode nearly 6 miles around Stone Mountain. The weather was fantastic and the trees were bursting with color. I really love Atlanta in the spring. It truly is one of the most beautiful cities on Earth. Now if only we could do something about the traffic . . . .

K and I also had fun this afternoon. We took K’s mom with us to see The Less, one of my favorite bands. Two of the guys are sons of Todd Harrison—a great supporter of our work. Remember last Summer when we went to Montana? That was to Todd’s cabin. I think The Less is one of the best new bands around. I went to Mercer this afternoon and shot a concert video for them. Most of you know that my background is in TV. I used to shoot news for CBS and CNN. In fact I have 9 Associated Press awards for my work. I can truthfully say that I enjoyed this shoot more than just about any that I’ve ever done. Except for perhaps chasing cops down alleys with machine guns. Nothing beats bang bang stuff.

The songs and interviews with the band will be on the Whirlwind Missions YouTube channel just as soon as I edit them. Click on Mission Videos to see them LIVE! When The Less gets their own channel I’ll upload the video to their own site. I’m a big believer in helping friends–especially really talented ones that are committed to OUTREACH.

Peace.

Early morning for me.  Up around 4:30 am, my mind buzzing with things to do.  Finished my newletter, worked on the invitations for our first Whirlwind Banquete on 5/5 (YOU are invited!  Blog readers RULE!), did more paper work for the North American Mission Board.

Crashed out for a couple more hours after working till about 9am.

Then up and a quick (not THAT quick) 4 mile run.

Took my 81 year old mother in law and her 85 year old sister out for lunch.

Finished up my email.

This is my day off?

Peace.

Had a terrific time with Stan Dobbs today.  He’s the CEO for Apartment Life.  Cool guy and a real passion for reaching the folks in apartments.  I certainly feel that!  I think we’ll be able to partner on multiple fronts.

Also had a get together with Cathy Wilson.  She’s a new Mission Service Corps missionary with the North American Mission Board.  I’m helping her plug into apartment ministry and with Pregnancy/Women ministries.  I think she’ll be a great asset to the team.

Finished up my paperwork.  Made a request for another MSC person helping us work in the Austell area.  Kim is a great soldier and will do a terrific job at Kingsley Village and with the other complexes in the area.

I need to get on over to the kids at Azalea!

Peace.

Full speed ahead day!

Started out in Forest Park talking with the Regional Manager for Jamco properties at Laurel Pointe.  I had Pastor Reed from FBC Forest Park, Toni Branyon and Tom Lawton with me.  There are some hurdles to get over–the place is supposed to be really dangerous and Jamco has never worked with us before.

I feel confident that with your prayers this will all work out.  I wrote a letter of introduction to the owner along with some reference letters.  Tom will take that over tomorrow morning.

From there I went to Austell to have a meeting with other partners at Kingsley Village.  Kim Jefferies and her daughters have worked there for years in the past.  With Focus properties taking over that area looks like Kim will be back.  First Communities properties used to own it.  When they took over KV, Kim’s work stopped.  This is the same thing that happened to us when FC took over Glennbrooke in Marietta.  Pray that upper management will change that attitude.

Mel Morris from Lite House was at the meeting.  We work with them in 5 other properties.  They are also starting new work in Forest Park–we’ve been invited to help there as well.

Bob Wiley was also there–he’s the Multi Housing guy for the Georgia Baptist Convention.  I’m glad he was there to see how we do things from the ground up.

Kathy and I went to FBC Duluth this evening to visit with some partners and to see one of my favorite new bands:  The Less.  Two of the musicians are sons of Todd Harrison–one of my good friends and tireless supporter of our  mission work.  I’m expecting big things to happen with this band.  Google The Less and check out their My Space Music page.  These guys rock for the Rock!

Peace.

Spent most of the day at the Georgia Baptist Convention building. Has a big (like HUGE) cross that’s sunk into the middle of a lake. Couldn’t really figure that one out. From the road you can only see just the tip of it.

An incredible, and I’m sure incredibly expensive, building. What a waste of SBC funds. At least IMHO.

We had a get together of the Mission Service Corps folks in Georgia. I had four other people on my team there. Six if you include a new couple that I’ll be working with in Forest Park. We were definitely the Wild Bunch. Maybe it was just me. . . .

I am definitely one loud puppy.

I guess it’s true what my wife says, “I live to hear myself talk.”

C’est la vie, baby.

Mike Riggins spoke in two sessions and was the main reason our team went. He’s been in charge of MSC for years and is now in charge of all NAMB personnel. I think he’s a great guy. I appreciate his ministry to us SO much.

After the meeting we shot back to Clarkston/Willow Branch. Terry Earl and I talked about her new ministry working with pre-k kids and their moms at their homes. Bennett is going to help get that set up. I’m expecting great things from Terry. She’s uniquely gifted for that ministry and is terrific with women/children in particular.

Then over to Azalea to help my kids with their homework. Met a couple of new moms from Bangladesh. I’m teaching one of them English. We’ll see how that goes. Hello, my name is Selma Akther Chowdury. Chowdury is like the Bengali version of Jones.

Watched Borat with Kathy this evening. I thought it was pretty funny, but definitely not for everyone.

Peace.

I had a terrific meeting with Paula Martin this morning from FBC Atlanta.  She is the leader of one of their Sunday School classes:  Common Ground.  They have done an OUTSTANDING job of staying plugged into the apartments.  The recently hosted a Valentines party and soon will help with a Easter outreach.  EXCELLENT!  It’s great to work with gung ho young people!

Been burning up the phone with calls.  Great stuff is happening!  Bob Wiley who is the multi-housing guy with the Georgia Baptist Convention invited me to come speak at a training conference in April.  I told him, “I’m not there to entertain people.  I’m there to start work.”  He agreed to have the end of the conference on Saturday afternoon be an Outreach Event where I can actually take people on site, have a little cook out and show the folks how this stuff is actually done.  I’m excited about that!

Have another regional manager that has agreed (actually begged me) to come work at her complex in Austell.  I have a couple of other partners that can come help with that.  Groovy.

I’m headed over to check on my kids at Azalea.

Peace.

Spoke to the Over 30 class at FBC Forest Park this morning.  They seemed pretty receptive to what I was saying, mainly-GET INVOLVED!

We’ll see what happens.

Spent a couple of hours in Forest Park this afternoon doing a recon on the apartments in the area, taking pictures, talking to maintenance guys and residents and the cops.  I’ll post the results of that this evening.

Spoke at Glover Baptist Church this evening.  I was shocked to hear that Pastor Steve Varner had resigned from there.  He’s apparently starting a new Spanish congregation in the area.  I wish him all the best.  He’s one of my favorites.  I think that Greg and Bill will do a fine job for GBC as well.

I spoke with the rest of the Niger team and showed some of the video that I shot.

Been working on admin stuff since I’ve been home.  Never ends.  C’est la vie, baby.

Peace
Saturday, March 17, 2007

Had a great meeting with my partners at Kensington Station this afternoon. I think the ministry is really starting to pick up over there. The Carters in particular are doing a great job.

Spoke at the missions banquet at FBC Forest Park this evening. That went well. I enjoyed also hearing Tom and Ann Watson speak. They are also MSC volunteers doing evangelism in Forest Park.

I hope to get some work started in the apartment complexes in that area soon. Like before Easter.

Worked out on weights.

Friday, March 16, 2007

Rainy day today.

Went for a 4 mile run while waiting for my internet connection to start working.  I did a LOT of admin work today.  Was out in the field almost the whole time on Thursday and didn’t get to do much office work.  I actually was on my computer till nearly 1am this morning working on the Missionary of the Year recommendation for Bennett Ekandem to the North American Mission Board.  He’s such a great partner and really deserves that recognition.  I sure going to do everything in my power to make sure he receives it.

Went to the book store with Ashley after she got out of school.  I like to look for computer books for Jesse and business books that I think can be relevant to the ministry that we’re doing.  I bought a couple of books specifically on Google applications.  I am a big believer in technology–otherwise I wouldn’t spend the time working on blogs and web sites!

Jesse and I re-worked out home page at www.whirlwindmissions.org.  We streamlined the buttons and organized them more efficiently.

This blog is also at www.whirlwindmissions.org.  Eventually the Xanga blog will disappear and it’ll ONLY be found on our website.  SO!  Make sure you subscribe to the blog from OUR site soon!  Just click on the RSS feed button.

I couldn’t believe it, but Jesse pointed it out to me this afternoon.  I’ve actually been doing this blog since May of 2004!  All of the archives are now posted on our web site.

No excuse not to have enough of Mr. Tim!

It’s after midnight.  Crash out time.  Big day tomorrow.

Peace.

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Went over to Springchase this morning to talk with Bennett and Marc and the manager of the property LaCheryl.  I was very disappointed in the manager’s attitude.  I don’t see how she can possibly last more than a year in that position with her uncaring attitude about “her” community.  I was upset, but tried to be nice.  Sometimes I really get sick of being nice.  But the way I see it it’s her loss.  We’re a Special Forces operation.  We’re designed to be mobile.  If we have to move, the Lord always opens another door.  Kensington Station is wide open–four times the size and begging us to come.

So we shake the dust off our sandals, and move on.  As I told Marc and Ashley, we can feel good that when we had the door open at Springchase we went in full steam ahead, did the absolute best we could and made a difference in the community.  As long as we have a feeling of urgency we’ll always succeed.

I am not in Coast Mode.

As I always tell potential new partners, “I don’t know what you’ve heard about Tim Cummins, but if you work with me things are going to HAPPEN–so if you’re in a talking mode, I prefer you don’t talk with me.”

Fortunately, my next meeting was with Todd Harrison.  He is one of our biggest supporters, always super up beat, excited about what the Lord is doing and has his finger on the pulse of getting things done.  We had a great lunch, fired each other up (we’re both easily excitable!) and see the Father moving in BIG ways around this crazy city of ours.

In the parking lot I had another future partner waiting for me, Nicholas Tea from Perimeter Church.  Nicholas is an ex-Campus Crusade guy who did a lot of work with University students.  He is definitely my kind of guy and we had a great time talking about our work in Atlanta.  God has blessed Nicholas mightily and he now wants to get into buying apartment complexes.  We have mutual friends who pointed him my direction.  I cautioned him to be patient right now before getting into the apartment business–at least until we know what’s going to happen with the Latino community and this new anti-immigrant legislation that Georgia is getting ready to put into law come the summer.

Then I went back to Azalea to take boxes of cookies and drinks (Thanks Todd and Pure Fun!) to the mission.  We had a great time talking with my core group of young men who have been with me for nearly a decade.  Many of them are now bigger than me!  I love these guys like my own children.  Fact of the matter is I probably spent more time with them than my own kids.

Peace.