Underground
It was a humid, Wednesday morning. I sat at the table outside Starbucks with my 11:00 a.m. appointment, a young missionary to South Dallas' homeless and despondent. Like every meeting I have had thus far with others in the ministry, I saw that she was on fire for the Lord with a clear calling and a compassionate heart for the despairing and spiritually lost. We read from our Bibles, out in the open, never having to hush our voices. We openly discussed how to connect those with plenty who want to help and those with little and an ear to hear. We openly talked of how awesome and merciful and gracious God is. . .
Summer Service Projects
Summer is here! Maybe you are thinking of all of the things you can do with your kids this summer to keep them busy and create teachable moments. If you would like to take part in one or more summer service projects in which children are welcome, the Lord is praised, and eternal life change is seen,
email Leeann to join our volunteer mailing list to stay abreast of our Pack & Pray Fellowships as well as various other events throughout the summer.
"We are no different"
I was having a conversation with a new friend last week and we were talking about the potential stigmas attached to helping the homeless in particular. Many times, we divert our eyes from the homeless in our community--the thought is "just keep them out of sight," isn't it? But then this friend said something that hit me. "We are no different," she said.
She's right! The homeless may have struggled to pay their bills, may be struggling with an addiction, and may be wondering where their worth comes from if not their socioeconomic status. How am I any different? Even if you have not struggled with an addiction, have you self-medicated your pain with food? Have you used cigarettes or alcohol to handle anxiety? Have you been so insecure, struggling to find your worth in the things of this world, that you've done things you're ashamed of, and you wrestle with that shame hidden inside? We are no different than the homeless downtown or the addict in a facility except that maybe we have the Holy Spirit inside to help us and they don't (yet). So, what do we do about it, as Christians? The Bible says in Isaiah 58,
"Isn’t the fast I choose:
To break the chains of wickedness,
to untie the ropes of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free,
and to tear off every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
to bring the poor and homeless into your house,
to clothe the naked when you see him,
and not to ignore your own flesh and blood?"
Let's help those who are struggling with heart wounds just like we all are. Let's help them find HOPE. . .find JESUS. . .find LIFE!
Current Needs
We need 500 Large Print Bibles for a Christmas outreach to an estimated 8,000 homeless! ($8.25 each)
We need 300 Action Bibles for a Halloween outreach to an estimated 1,500 children! ($13.00 each)
Click
here to donate.
God bless you all for your support and prayers!
In Him, Kathryn
