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Salvation Army Thrift Store in Tyler, TX

February 1st, 2010

Salvation Army Thrift Store

633 North Broadway Avenue
Tyler, TX
(903) 592-4361

The Salvation Army was started in 1865 as an Evangelical Christian ministry by William and Catherine Booth. It is called an army because of its structure being loosely modeled after military rank and structure. Today it has grown to have locations in one hundred and eighteen countries and operating in one hundred and seventy-five languages. People recognize their red and white logo world wide. The organization is most popularly known for its thrift stores and those sweet smiling people who annoy everyone by fundraising with the loud bell ringing at Christmas time outside of high traffic retail stores.

Salvation Army Thrift Store in Tyler

Salvation Army Thrift Store

But these stores are only a fundraiser like the bell ringing. The stores help to pay for their main Christian ministry of free drug and alcohol residential rehabilitation centers and temporary homeless shelters. They are also able to offer temporary and longer term jobs to people in need of work.

The Salvation Army thrift store in Tyler, TX is located on North Broadway pretty close to the center of downtown Tyler. The store shares a parking lot with their rehabilitation ministry center and is very easy to notice. I must say that this is not my favorite thrift store in Tyler, but I still frequently visit it. It has a few features that make me a permanent shopper.

I’ll start with the good things about this store. This Salvation Army thrift store has the nicest and cheapest furniture out of the thrift stores in Tyler. Aside from buying new or from yard sales, your best bet for cheap furniture shopping in Tyler would be this Salvation Army. My wife was particularly pleased with the amount of really nice wooden coffee and end tables. There are also usually a few couches and stuffed chairs in really nice shape.

Right as you enter the store to the left between the door and the cash register, there is a nice little shelf of CDs, DVDs, and computer software. I was more than impressed when I began to look through this section. I was able to find a few useful computer games and a music CD that was brand new in the wrapper. All were only a dollar a piece. This does require some time to sift through the more noticeable collection of useless CDs and software.

In the back right of the store they have a pretty nice book section. This collection of books surprises me every time. It seems that they have most of the John Grisham books, which I am often in search of.

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army

They also have a surprisingly large selection of fantasy and sci-fi novels, which can be hard to find in used book stores. I must let you know, though, that just like the CDs the books are in no particular order. It requires patience and practice at skimming through titles to find the gems.

One last cool little section is in the center section of the back wall. They have tons of bolts of fabric, and it’s decently priced. I am never looking for cloth for sewing projects, so I can’t vouch for the usefulness of it in that sense. I use it for when I am putting together a costume and just need to be able to drape large sections of cheap fabric.
As for the negative things, there aren’t many. Thrift stores are thrift stores, so you can’t expect too much out of them, but one problem with this store is the men’s clothing section is pretty drab and scarce. I am usually in search of t-shirts, but their selection is not great. I have however been able to find a tie or two in good shape.

The last thing is an isolated negative experience I had in the store on my last visit. I was shopping through the CDs in the front and noticed one of the cashiers staring at me suspiciously. Being a self-appraised above average good citizen and licensed preacher, I shrugged it off and continued on my shopping. I was able to forget about the slight awkwardness and made it to the check out. When I got to the register the lady some how informed me that she was in charge. I’m not sure if she was a supervisor or the owner. Anyway, she looked at me like only a mother can in the eyes and asked, “Where are the other CDs you had?” Shocked by the sudden accusation of theft, I paused. Then I told her truthfully that I had placed the ones I didn’t want back on the shelf. She gave me a weird grin and said something like a tsk tsk. All in all, it was awkward and almost offensive, but I still think the store is great. I just think that they are very used to working with drug addicts and delinquent teens.

Give this store a shot. You will most likely be pleased enough to return to shop in the future.

.

Local Tyler Ministries Helping Haiti – How Can You Help?

January 29th, 2010

What are the local ministries doing in Haiti and how can Christians partner with them?

Mercy Works – YWAM Tyler are sending wave after wave of short term medical teams to Port Au Prince. The first team has now come back and they were involved in providing first aid to the victims being rescued from the rubble – in a very unstable environment. The team that is now there is doing wound care and medical assessments of the many victims. Next weeks team and the ones following will be involved very much on a medical level – performing amputations, other orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation.

Haiti Relief

Haiti Relief Effort

The teams there report very unsanitary conditions – the stench is horrendous and there is obviously a huge amount of human suffering which is hard to see. The crush injuries are devastating and the need for medical care is very urgent. They are doing what they can to help, currently with limited supplies and equipment. They are staying in tents and there is no electricity. It is also not very safe – there is violence and looting. Please pray for their safety and for God to multiply their effectiveness so they can reach more people in need. If anyone wants to volunteer and can spare 2 weeks in the next couple of months to work on a medical team – please email Mercy Works mercy@ywamtyler.org The current needs are for doctors, nurses and paramedics, preferably people with emergency or orthopedic experience.

Mercy Ships has sent a Disaster Response assessment team to see how they can be involved with the longer term rehabilitation in Haiti. They will be sending several Mercy Teams to that area for years to come – to meet the both the medical and reconstruction needs that are there in Haiti on a long term basis. If you want to help in in Haiti in the future this would be a great option. You do not have to have medical skills to go and help – good health, a desire to work hard and a heart of love for the people affected is what is needed most. These teams will come alongside existing projects to increase the amount of help that is being given. Look for the Mercy Teams application form on the website www.mercyships.org

Mercy Ships and YWAM are also sending funds and equipment so if you haven’t donated and want to get involve that way, you can also do that online at the YWAM Tyler or Mercy Ships websites. So far they have not been able to send a lot of supplies as air transport has been very restricted but things are improving and they will soon be able to meet the huge needs for the medical supplies in the area with your financial donation.

Finally you can pray. I guess Christians everywhere have already been praying for the victims and their families, for those facing loss of limbs and ongoing pain, for those whose lives are devastated in other ways. But there is one thing that is often omitted. There is lawlessness everywhere on the streets of Haiti. We need to pray that God would intervene and stop the ‘every man for himself’ mentality. There needs to be a spiritual revival in that land otherwise chaos will remain there – traditionally there is a lot of occultic practices which came with the immigrants from the voodoo traditions of West Africa . The Christian organizations there (like YWAM and Mercy Ships) can have a big impact in showing God’s unconditional love and hope to those affected and can bring a dimension that just isn’t present in the other relief efforts.

Teachers For The Nations

January 19th, 2010

Teacher for the Nation is one of the schools that Youth with a Mission has to offer and this is accredited through University of the Nation located in Hawaii and Eclesia in Arkansas. When you have completed the course you earn 27 credits towards the degree you are choosing. I have taken several courses that YWAM Tyler had to offer and can truly say that I enjoyed each one very much. This year I am taking T.F.N. and loving every minute of it. Not going to lie….really hard work and long hours just like any other school or work. Jim and Barbara Kilkenny started this school in 1980, the same year they pioneered the Christian Heritage School. I was always terrified of doing T.F.N. because I have been told that is was very challenging and thought provoking. Before starting school…I thought I knew a lot…but have learned how little reasoning power I really had. While you are in the school…this is the kind of curriculum you would be taking: Sentence Analysis, Growing Kids God’s way, History, Philosophy, Education and Government, and Curriculum Development.

History is God’s story of what really happened and the reason we are here today.

I came from Romania and my experience has been that everywhere you go they teach you something different. For example, I was taught in Romania that Ulad Tepes the Impaler was a hero. Someone who loved and protected his country…when I got to America I learned that he was horrible and evil. That is why it is so important to get the right foundations…T.F.N. teaches you how to think govern-mentally and Biblically to reason from the Bible. They teach you to think for yourself and research the truth. People make the mistake of thinking that the school is only for teachers. Not true, it is for anyone who longs to learn how to reason from true principles. The staff is always ready to help in anyway you need. Everyone of the teachers are filled with a passion to teach and make sure you learn to love studying and have fun while you do it. Bet you never dreamed of that. For the first time in my life I love learning for the reason of understanding. It has been life changing for me and because the teachers are all such great teachers and love what they do….they have dedicated their life to teaching the truth to each student.

Tyler Abortion Clinic Resource Center

January 13th, 2010

Pregnancy and Abortion Information Resource Center

(Sonograms, consultation, and confidential advice)
Call for more information: (903) 592-4495
1003 S Baxter Ave, Tyler, TX 75701

Tyler Abortion Clinic resource center is a ministry that YWAM offers for any pregnant girl. Their goal is to save as many babies as they can and help the mother make the best decision for her and her baby besides abortion. The Tyler abortion clinic resource center is located close to T.J.C. (Tyler Junior College). They offer free pregnancy tests for the girls that go in their office and also counsel them if they want it.

They have available a free sonogram so that the expectant mother can see their baby. Besides providing tests for them they also inform the girls about the dangers of having sex outside of marriage and about getting sexually transmitted diseases. The staff working there are wonderful women of God who love God and want the girls in there to make the right decision for their lives and their baby.

Tyler Abortion Resource Center is a blessing because they actually care about both lives, the life of the baby and the life of the mother. It seems to me that any other place you go today they would rather you abort the baby because it’s an inconvenience for your life instead of a blessing. They also have videos to watch that prepare you for becoming a mother.

Trust me it is not an easy task to take on planned or unplanned motherhood.  Being a mother is a life long thing to where you will learn how to be the best mother over time with the help of God, Christian role models and family.  Abortion Clinic in Tyler resource center helps you get started in the right direction. They also have a program called Building Blocks where the girls can go earn points and get stuff that they need for their children. The way it works is that you meet with a counselor, they give you the things you need to do before your next appointment. When you arrive at your next appointment, if you have completed the things they required you to, then you earn points and you in return can go shopping for your baby.

Some of the things you have to complete there to earn points are some parenting classes, watching some videos, going and getting WIC and going to your doctor appointment and other stuff like that. Tyler Texas Abortion Clinic resource center and Building Blocks work together to better prepare the girls for parenthood. They are a non profit organization and everything they have is by donation. I look at it this way, they are people who offer up their lives to help others in need without wanting anything in return.

These days you can’t find too many places or people who are willing to give of themselves the way I have seen the people at the Abortion Clinic Resource Center and Building Blocks do for so many years. Just in case you know of anyone who needs help in this area, have them contact the Abortion Clinic Information Center in Tyler because I guarantee you that whoever is going to help you cares about you and your child or friend. I could not think of a better place for you to go and get help if you find yourself in a place that you thought you would never end up.

Unplanned pregnancy could happen to anyone and that next person could be you. Don’t worry because the people there won’t judge you because of the pregnancy whether it is planned or unplanned. They love God and they love God’s children, whoever they might be or whatever they might have done to get there in the first place. Abortion Clinic Info Center in Tyler TX has been a blessing for many girls including myself.

S.S.T. School of Summer Training

January 12th, 2010

S.S.T. stands for School of Summer Training and is a program that is available through YWAM Texas located in Lindale, Texas near Tyler TX. This is a program where teens can go and have a lot of fun while learning about God. It is a summer program and it’s a couple of weeks long. You have one week sessions of classes and lots of fun and the other week you go on an outreach to Mexico usually.

It is an excellent way to spend your summer and make sure your children are in a good environment and are learning good moral things. S.S.T. concentrates on teaching the children how to have a relationship with God and make decisions based on God’s word and not just their emotions. It is also an opportunity for them to find new friends that have similar goals in life and love God and are trying to figure out what His will is for their life.

I don’t think there is anything more exciting in life than to know that your children love God and are walking in His ways and that they don’t live to please man…but to please God. At the same time it’s not just all about work and no fun. While they are there, they end up having lots of fun activities for the children.

For parents who are looking for a good place for your children to go for the summer I would encourage you to look into Summer School of Training and see if it would be something that your teen might enjoy. While they are out having fun that will give you the parent an opportunity to spend time doing some of the things that you could not do if your children were at home. Your children will be in good hands and there is nothing to worry about because the staff is great and loves working with your children.

Their hearts are for your children in making sure they know God and make Him known to others. Christian counselors are their to teach and help them learn how to make better decisions in life. This program will better equip your children to be able to go out and face the world full on because they will know the truth about some of the things that are out there and are a danger for your children. I can truly say that it would be a blessing to have your children go to one of the Summer Training Programs that YWAM has going through out the summer each year.