The Marcum Family/Ministry News

March 2015
Dear Friends & Family,
Greetings once again to all of you, from all of us Jim, Melissa, Joy, Jessianna, & Jonathan! This
month we want to not only report on the ongoing work we are privileged to be doing as intercessory
missionaries here in Kansas City, but also share updates on how the family is doing. Thank you for
reading! Each of you is a blessing to our family and we so appreciate you! -Love, The Marcums

God is Moving in Inner City KC

Worship led by Joe Ritchie. There is live worship &

prayer at Hope City M-F, 8am-10pm, 70 hrs/week.

I (Jim) have been able to change my schedule so I can spend my mornings each
Wednesday at Hope City, and God is definitely moving there! I am so
impressed with the leaders hearts, with the student interns who are there
ministering and learning, and with all the precious people from inner-city KC
that come to Hope City. There is a presence of the Lord which is almost
tangible, and the atmosphere is so filled with hope and encouragement in the
midst of a very economically depressed area of the city. I am able to be there
up through the time lunch is served, so Ive been sitting and eating with many
different ones, hearing their stories. And listening to the prayers lifted to God
during the open mic prayer times at the Hope City prayer room has so moved
my heart. God is taking some of the least and making them great in faith as
they stand and pray and intercede for the needs of their neighborhood.

About six weeks ago when I began my weekly trips to Hope City, I reconnected with one of the staff there (around my age)
named Rick. He and his wife came to IHOPKCs mission base a few years ago, and were soon swept into what God is
doing at Hope City. He said that they moved here from a rural living situation and had never lived in an inner city. But God
so moved upon their hearts, they have purchased a house very close to Hope City and now are a part of the core leadership
there. He said to me, I could not have imagined doing this a few years ago, but I have never been happier in my life! We
are where God wants us to be. I have driven through the neighborhoods around Hope City, and I have to say it is definitely
grace and faith from the Lord that has taken this awesome couple from the beautiful countryside and planted them here!
Rick told me, Hope City is in many ways a hidden ministry, we are doing so many things here no one knows anything
about. Later as we were breaking for lunch, he came up to me and said, Hey, you want to come with us? Me and some of
the guys are going to a nearby group home for mentally challenged men. We go there every week and take them a meal and
minister to them and pray with them. I said, Wow, that is awesome! He smiled real big and said, Yeah, thats what I
mean its another hidden thing were doing to bless this neighborhood and bring Gods light and presence.
I couldnt go with Rick that day because I needed to catch the shuttle to get back for the Wednesday afternoon IHOPU
discipleship group Melissa and I lead. However, this summer when IHOPU is on break I hope to get to go with Rick and
minister to the guys in the group home. Another special moment I had recently was one Wednesday morning we had
communion together in the Hope City prayer room. One of the staff pastors, Bill Durkes, led us, and it seemed like the
presence of the Lord just descended upon the room. Tears were shed as we rejoiced afresh in the power of the cross to heal
and forgive and cleanse us. As the people came forward for take communion, I saw the truly hungry being filled!

Sharing communion together rejoicing in the

power of the cross.

For 14 hours a day, the Hope City prayer room is

open with IHOPKC worship teams ministering.

Lunch served daily M-F, and supper served

Mon & Fri during church on the streets.

Update on the Family:

Joy Joy is in her 2nd year of FMA which is the school of music, so she has classes in voice, music theory, worship leading,
and also some theology classes. She is worship leader for one of the IHOPU student teams this year, so leads two sets a
week in the worship labs, and some other times as well. Joy is very excited to be going to Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN the
second week of April to be part of leading 7 days of 24-hr worship with around 30 worship & prayer ministries from across
the state as well as several local churches & ministries, culminating with a weekend One Thing Regional conference.
Jessianna Jessianna is on break right now from her job as a nanny for a 2-yr-old, because the parents just had their 2nd
child. She recently took at job at Target, and is enjoying it there. She also recently was able to get a nice digital SLR
camera and wants to get more involved with photography. Jessianna is still singing 6 sets a week in the Global Prayer
Room on Jonas Parks team, and she often leads the sets as well. She always does such an awesome job!
Jonathan Last October Jonathan began studies at Turning Hearts Life Training, which is a discipleship ministry &
tutoring program led by our good friends, Dennis & Dara Aldy. He has classes 3 days a week, which include a prep course
for both the Missouri equivalency diploma, and the national ACT test. Jonathan has also been working since last summer at
Taco Bell, where he is well-liked and does a great job! He is planning to get a more full-time position once he finishes in a
few months at Turning Hearts, and wants to save up for a car and for tuition to attend IHOPU/FMA.
Melissa We sure enjoyed a visit recently from my brother, Monte Harrison, and his wife Sylvia! It was fun to show them
around KC (and the IHOPKC ministry & community too), and introduce them to some of our friends here. Ate some great
KC barbeque together - yum! Also, Ive been helping out Shawna a bit more with our granddaughters since our son,
Jeremiah, has a traveling job now. And Jeremiah & Shawna are expecting so we have a new grandbaby on the way!
Jim A new development for me is that on some afternoons I am now helping out in the Fulfillment Center which is a
large warehouse in Grandview where the inventory of books & materials are stored from which we operate the IHOPKC
Missions Base. They were in need of an inventory analyst, and I have background in this type of work. Please pray for me
to have strength as the addition of this has increased me to about a 60-hr/week commitment. But I am enjoying it!

Advocating for Safe Families at the Capitol in Jefferson City

Some time back, Safe Families for Children, which began in 2002 in Chicago, had to discontinue services for nearly two years
due a question of legal protection for the program, and some newly appointed children's services people not understanding or
supporting it. There is now legislation pending in several states (including Missouri House Bill 684) that prevents this from
happening, and protects both the placing parent and the host home parents. A bill has passed already in OK, OR, & WI. Jim &
Melissa accompanied our local Safe Families for Children KC team to Jefferson City last month to testify at a hearing for the
passage of this bill in Missouri. The hearing went well! Several legislators came up afterwards to speak with us and encourage
us. We also got to spend time with Representative Andrew Koenig from 99th District (St Louis area) who sponsored the bill. He
& his wife have 3 children & are also foster parents, a great Christian family!

The Safe Families of KC leadership team- Danielle,

Melissa, Danny, and Leonie.

Melissa & Jim, blessed to be at

Missouris state capitol.

Some of the legislators beginning to take their seats as

the hearing got underway. Many came & thanked us.

Until next month, keep in touch. We love you all, and were praying for you!

Because He is worthy of it all,

Jim & Melissa

Jim & Melissa Marcum & family

Jim & Melissa Marcum

P.O. Box 1099, Grandview, MO 64030
Phone/text: 816-287-3525 / 816-287-2228
Email/PayPal: intercessorymissions@gmail.com
International House of Prayer Kansas City, MO

E-giving at www.ihopkc.org/give/staffsupport - use E-giving code JM204009 to make a gift to the Marcums. Thank you!
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