November 25, 2010: Our First Thanksgiving Party!

Today marks a hallmark for what we have been doing for two years. Since the beginning my wife and I desired for the ministry to be completely mobile. We work out of our cars and meet the homeless at their stations and their places to feed them. We enjoyed getting our family and others involved in serving the community by moving our feet. This year was different. We decided that we will plant in the middle of Hemphill community. With Southside Church of Christ and Steve Cloer (preaching minister) to help we were able to allocate a home base. We set the date to be November 25,2010 at 4:30p. We decided that dinner would start with the football game.

The numbers came slowly at first. We were able to hit around 10-15 before 4:30pm. From 4:30-6:30p we got close to 30. The numbers were coming in, but the donations and help we had were immense. With well over 50 volunteers and more than enough food, we decided we'd go back to our roots. We went ahead and launched several vehicles into Hemphill. Our first few stops included feeding families of 8, 7, and then 4. Several families couldn't get out of the cold and several did not want to enter the building. We served them anyway. We're glad that Suzanne and her husband came. Her husband had a slight seizure but nothing to worry about.

Our last stop was to head to Lancaster St. There we helped round 25-30 more homeless guys get clothes and food. We had alot of leftover food. Here we took the food the next day to Union Gospel Mission so they could use it. Overall we fed close to 70-80 people. It was a grand success, because God used us all to do something for the needy. I am glad we have been able to be the hands and feet God wants us to be, and how His Son modeled to us on this earth. There is no greater movement than that of the Holy Spirit who guides us and gives us the peace we need.

I'll leave this blog with a post from Shannon, who was one of our volunteers, "While the homeless were eating their meal and watching the Cowboys game, I was asked, "what difference are you making here?" My answer is that honestly, I don't know. But I do know that Jesus said that when I serve the least of these, I am serving Him. And I get no greater joy than looking into the eyes of the homeless people I come in contact with and knowing that by loving on them, I am serving my Jesus. It's not for me to know what difference I'm making. I only need to be obedient to my God and leave the results in His capable hands." - Shannon Ely.

October 2, 2010: Delay

There is such a big delay today. The people took sometime to arrive, but that's ok. We were able to get enough people to distribute all the food and clothes, but at the second stop. We ran out of food pretty quickly, especially when I bought twice as many hot dogs as last time and I had over 15 dogs left over previously. The pictures will give you more or less what we were doing. What was distinctly different this time was that people stayed around more to chit chat. I enjoyed that.

Again, I'd like to thank Joey for coming out. He brought a friend of his from NFWBC. I momentarily had a brain lapse and forgot his name. It is awesome to get so many youth, college, ministers, and friends involved with this. There's nothign more fun than going rogue, meeting new faces, and providing help. Maybe we are the angels they talk about. Something to think about.

September 4, 2010: The Time

It seems timing is crucial. I arrived early in the morning around 9:30am, and perceived that many homeless were present. I recalled that if I went later, then less would be present as many of them would scatter and reach day laboring positions. At this time there were many that were on the wayside willing to talk and wait if we kept our promise.

I left back home after reaching Shamrock and the Texas Car Wash and headed back out with Joey and the crew at around 11:15am. There were more homeless than usual. We reach about 10 in the first group. For the past few times we were able to mobilize more clothes. I am trutly thankful for Joey and Nathan as they got NFWBC involved to distribute food and clothes. This makes it easier for all of us to now to feed and to clothe them.

I recall being able to pray with one gentleman regarding a job crisis at the second station. My wife was able to encounter a couple women. It seems as if the women don't sit with the men much. The second stop usually result in more day laborers. Praise God we were able to have a little extra to provide dinner to some folks.

August 21, 2010: The Heart of North Fort Worth Baptist Church

A month earlier Joey, a landscaping guru at Southwestern cancelled on the homeless outreach. I was hoping they come, but due to unforeseen circumstances I understood the trial it took to get here. A week before we left, Joey called and said they were going. I was amazed at God's handiwork in preparing leaders ready to do His calling. With Joey, Nathan, and their band of helpers (Kathryn, Melissa, McCalah, my family, Donna, and Dennis) we took off with many sandwiches, fruits, and hot dogs. We entered into Texas Car Wash and help feed four people there. Joey, the prison mate plus a few other guys that were there last time got fed. Martin was hanging with a lady who had just gotten out of prison that I hardly recognized. Lo and behold, it was Suzanne! I haven't seen her for 6 months. She got out, and looked very different. rather than her usual dark self, her complexion came back and she seems renewed in her spirit to stay out of jail and to remain with families. We were able to feed about 8 people here in the end. We then took off to the Shamrock station and hit about 15 people at the day labor area. There we meet a few homeless guys parched beneath some trees looking for shade. The August summers here average in the 100+. It was a hot day and food was a necessity to keep on living. After that we decided to head on to Terry's Supermarket. We were there in the initial stages when we did our drive by homeless ministry, but it's been over 6 months since I stopped by Terrys. When we parked there were three guys. One who seemed overly drunk and two others who had been married for 20 years.

Shannon Ely gave a great report the day after at her job; Catholic Charities: "First thing this morning Paula and her husband (the couple we met at Terry's on Saturday) were up here at Catholic Charities working with one of our case managers! I got to talk to them for a while and they said our smiling faces made their day on Saturday. They are looking for employment, so pray that God opens doors! "

I'm glad that God has given us a heart for the homeless people on Hemphill. May we continue being faithful no matter what the cost.