We got to do a delivery again. This time we also encouraged all the homeless friends we saw to take part in a census. Every two years the county estimates how many homeless people live in Howard County. They use this number to determine how much money in the budget will be allocated to helping the homeless. On Monday the 26th, the Day Center will be open longer so that forms can be filled in and people can be counted.
When we do our deliveries, we focus on the homeless people who don't make it to the Center on a regular basis so our delivery was even more important.
We saw several of our regulars and left notes at all the camps where we did not get to talk to anyone.
We ended up doing the fastest delivery that I can recall. We did spend time talking to those who we saw, but everything else went very smoothly.
I remember when we first got involved in this ministry. One of the leaders initially got involved because he saw that the numbers for Howard County were greatly underestimated. This provided the motivation to go out and find the camps along Route 1. He said something like, "You can't count our homeless population by sitting behind a desk."
You know, you need to get out there to be used by God as well. Look for those opportunities. Every day in Christ has a purpose.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Having fun spending money
Now that this ministry has grown beyond the youth area, I am always looking for more ways to keep the youth in contact with what God is doing here. We have been blessed with many generous cash donations including gift certificates at a local grocery store. The food pantry at church and at the Day Center was getting pretty low, so we decided to have a Scavenger Hunt that involved shopping for the homeless ministry.
On Friday, January 23 several youth came to church to participate in this scavenger hunt. We ended up pitting boys against girls and each had a shopping list to purchase from while in Giant and a list of goofy things to either bring back to take photos of in and around Route 40 in Ellicott City.
Each group was given $150 in gift certificates and they could spend no more than that. They got points for being the closest without going over. The boys won that part, they spent $149.89. We did have a very nice cashier who helped us use coupons and let us run back to the aisles to purchase more stuff. Luckily it was a slow night at Giant!!
The girls ended up winning the event, but the homeless ministry really was the winner. We were able to stock our shelves and lots of cans will be taken to the center. Here are pictures of both teams.
We all had fun (isn't it more fun to spend other people's money?) and we did some good work as well. If you see one of these youth, make sure you thank them for serving Jesus.
On Friday, January 23 several youth came to church to participate in this scavenger hunt. We ended up pitting boys against girls and each had a shopping list to purchase from while in Giant and a list of goofy things to either bring back to take photos of in and around Route 40 in Ellicott City.
Each group was given $150 in gift certificates and they could spend no more than that. They got points for being the closest without going over. The boys won that part, they spent $149.89. We did have a very nice cashier who helped us use coupons and let us run back to the aisles to purchase more stuff. Luckily it was a slow night at Giant!!
The girls ended up winning the event, but the homeless ministry really was the winner. We were able to stock our shelves and lots of cans will be taken to the center. Here are pictures of both teams.
We all had fun (isn't it more fun to spend other people's money?) and we did some good work as well. If you see one of these youth, make sure you thank them for serving Jesus.
Monday, January 19, 2009
I know what you are going to say
Today is the third Monday, our turn again. We tried a new type of food today, we made homemade chicken vegetable soup with corn bread. It ended up being the perfect meal to serve, we had a light snow the entire day it was very cold. The soup was very well received by our homeless friends and it was really easy to heat and serve as well.
We had a ton of folks come through, it was a very busy day.
The best part 0f the whole day was when on of the homeless friends commented that we had just been there a few days ago. I told her we do 3rd Sat and Mondays and we are back. She seemed impressed with that and I started to tell her how it works. She quickly interrupted me and said something like, "Yeah, I know what you are going to say. You are going to tell me this is not you guys doing the work, but God is the one providing all the food and resources and you all are just doing what He says."
I said, "That is right, but I was going to tell you that we just have two totally different sets of people who can serve on two different days. Nothing spiritual, but I like what you said better."
We had a good laugh over that. She notices something different at this Center, but I don't think she knows the difference is God.
It is nice she anticipated my response to give God the credit. Would people say that about you?
We had a ton of folks come through, it was a very busy day.
The best part 0f the whole day was when on of the homeless friends commented that we had just been there a few days ago. I told her we do 3rd Sat and Mondays and we are back. She seemed impressed with that and I started to tell her how it works. She quickly interrupted me and said something like, "Yeah, I know what you are going to say. You are going to tell me this is not you guys doing the work, but God is the one providing all the food and resources and you all are just doing what He says."
I said, "That is right, but I was going to tell you that we just have two totally different sets of people who can serve on two different days. Nothing spiritual, but I like what you said better."
We had a good laugh over that. She notices something different at this Center, but I don't think she knows the difference is God.
It is nice she anticipated my response to give God the credit. Would people say that about you?
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Third Saturday in January
Our time to serve this month came really quickly with all the Christmas activities and the fantastic news in our church service. We had some of our regular people out of town because of Martin Luther King Jr Birthday, but God provided.
As a result of the holiday, we had 4 people serve at the center that had never served there before. It is so cool to watch people absorb the whole experience and let God direct them. They seemed nervous, but once things got rolling, it was all good.
We also had a brand new cooking team which included the first youth to help in this way. We had a great time and we were blessed.
Here is an email from one of those new people who served at the Center.
Dennis,
I wanted to write and tell you how God touched me yesterday. I showed up just to help out and see what God was going to do. I never expected to be blessed the way I was. I helped out in the pantry and clothing room. I was immediately moved and struck to see how grateful and appreciative everyone was to receive clothing that they desperately needed.How often do I take for granted that I have a drawer full of clean underwear and socks! I enjoyed helping the Men pick out the right size jeans and seeing the smiles on their faces when they commented "Wow these are very nice, or this really is my color."
When it was time to go, I ended up giving a homeless friend a ride back to Jessup. He shared his story with me and we talked about his family and that he was never going to give up, no matter what happened. The final blessing came when he was getting out of my car and he commented that there were no belts at the shelter. The Lord spoke to me and told me to give him my belt. I looked down and I was wearing my favorite belt. I battled the flesh for a moment and then surrendered to God and gave him my belt. The look on his face was priceless.
Miracles can happen when we obey our loving Father in Heaven.
That describes the double blessing we receive when we step out and serve. Not only are we a blessing to others, but God blesses us as well. Be on the look out for opportunities to give something away.
As a result of the holiday, we had 4 people serve at the center that had never served there before. It is so cool to watch people absorb the whole experience and let God direct them. They seemed nervous, but once things got rolling, it was all good.
We also had a brand new cooking team which included the first youth to help in this way. We had a great time and we were blessed.
Here is an email from one of those new people who served at the Center.
Dennis,
I wanted to write and tell you how God touched me yesterday. I showed up just to help out and see what God was going to do. I never expected to be blessed the way I was. I helped out in the pantry and clothing room. I was immediately moved and struck to see how grateful and appreciative everyone was to receive clothing that they desperately needed.How often do I take for granted that I have a drawer full of clean underwear and socks! I enjoyed helping the Men pick out the right size jeans and seeing the smiles on their faces when they commented "Wow these are very nice, or this really is my color."
When it was time to go, I ended up giving a homeless friend a ride back to Jessup. He shared his story with me and we talked about his family and that he was never going to give up, no matter what happened. The final blessing came when he was getting out of my car and he commented that there were no belts at the shelter. The Lord spoke to me and told me to give him my belt. I looked down and I was wearing my favorite belt. I battled the flesh for a moment and then surrendered to God and gave him my belt. The look on his face was priceless.
Miracles can happen when we obey our loving Father in Heaven.
That describes the double blessing we receive when we step out and serve. Not only are we a blessing to others, but God blesses us as well. Be on the look out for opportunities to give something away.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
The Greatest Gift!!
It just does not get any better than this!!
When we served at the Center this past Monday, one of our volunteers got to talking to one of our Homeless friends about church and other spiritual things. One thing lead to another and they decided they would like to visit our church. The volunteer got up early and ended up driving quite a distance to pick this person up and bring them to our worship service.
Guess what?! Kip preached another usual great sermon, the Holy Spirit was very present as usual and our new friend is now a Christian!! He went forward and received the gift of salvation right then and there. Can you believe it? God used us and this cool ministry to reach down and totally change a life right before our eyes. I was so overwhelmed, it was so beautiful.
It is so awesome to watch God at work. Take a moment to thank Him for being a personal active God.
When we served at the Center this past Monday, one of our volunteers got to talking to one of our Homeless friends about church and other spiritual things. One thing lead to another and they decided they would like to visit our church. The volunteer got up early and ended up driving quite a distance to pick this person up and bring them to our worship service.
Guess what?! Kip preached another usual great sermon, the Holy Spirit was very present as usual and our new friend is now a Christian!! He went forward and received the gift of salvation right then and there. Can you believe it? God used us and this cool ministry to reach down and totally change a life right before our eyes. I was so overwhelmed, it was so beautiful.
It is so awesome to watch God at work. Take a moment to thank Him for being a personal active God.
Friday, January 2, 2009
What a gift!!
In the past week, I have been handed a total of $660 to be used for the Homeless Ministry!!
God is still touching hearts and prompting people to give generously to this minstry.
God is at work here.
God is still touching hearts and prompting people to give generously to this minstry.
God is at work here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
