Street Stories

I guess I have known him for about 3 years. I don’t see him every week but maybe once or twice a month. He started coming on Tuesday nights when we held our meetings downtown at the Carpenter’s Cellar. He had a full time job and came each week to volunteer. One night he proudly made a $50.00 donation to our ministry. He told me stories of eating out of trash cans when he was homeless. It was hard to believe. Now it is not hard to believe. Tonight he asked me if I could spare 25 cents. I am thinking, "What can you get for that amount of money?" It broke my heart. Two weeks ago he told me he had quit drinking. He was very proud. This week he was back to his old habits. He told me that he had been through so many programs that he could teach them. I told him to cry out to God for mercy and turn his life over to the One that can satisfy all our needs.

At the same table another person was listening to us. I had never met him, but he seemed interested in our conversation. He told me he was using and selling drugs but he knew it was destroying him. I had an opportunity spend some time talking and praying with him. I encouraged him to get some type of accountability if he is really serious about changing his lifestyle. I think he realized he could become like my other friend in a few short years.

A few weeks ago, I posted a picture and an interview of Rico. Rico had requested a copy of the picture that I posted. I enlarged the picture for him and gave it to him Tuesday night. He was delighted and ordered 5 more prints. He wanted to mail them to some of his family. I am thankful for capabilities to print photos on home computers or otherwise I would be running to the store and ordering more prints.

There are as many stories as there are homeless. Most each Tuesday night just need someone to talk with them and show them that someone cares. They don’t receive this care in the community and not even among themselves. We are privileged to serve them by showing some act of kindness. Sometimes it is listening to their stories and other times it may be providing a picture. Jesus said if you have done it to the least of these, you have done it unto me.

We were pleased to spend time with our friends last Tuesday night and provide 82 meals with the assistance of 16 volunteers. May God through Jesus Christ get all the glory.
~Marc

Getting Families Connected

Brad Fulton and I met about a year ago, when he began working with me. Because of working together, he had heard me speak frequently of all that was happening at Food for Life prior to his decision to begin volunteering. Brad's heart for people stirred in him the desire to begin volunteering at Food for Life around two months ago. He quickly got plugged into the ministry opportunities at FFLM, and in a very short amount of time he met Brandon, thus beginning a friendship that has caused many of us to be greatly encouraged. The following is a picture of Brandon and Brad's account of what has been transpiring over the past few weeks with regards to his friendship with Brandon, and subsequently Brandon's family.
~Charity

"I met Brandon September 11, 2007 at Food For Life ministry to the homeless. Chris, a neighbor who frequently attends, invited Brandon to the ministry. Brandon did not attend that night to meet any sort of physical need, but to seek to satisfy his spiritual appetites. In God's providence, I sat down next to him to share a meal and conversation that night, and we've been good friends ever since.

Currently, he's a member of our church care group and a weekly attender at our church. Our conversation at FFL was so deep and heart-felt that he quickly accepted my invitation to attend our church despite his 15 year absence from church. I met April (his wife) and Jaden (his son) at Community Bible Church that next Sunday following our first encounter at Food For Life. I believe firmly that the quick connection at our church that Sunday led to them desiring to join our College and Career Care Group I am leading. (One highlight that I will share quickly is that April left Jaden alone for the FIRST TIME at our church nursery that Sunday!)

Brandon and I have enjoyed activities like golf, Sunday afternoon meals, and a Six Flags day trip thus far. Our conversations usually entail him asking questions about the Bible and me seeking to answer him. He has been working his way through the Old Testament while writing questions down as he goes.

One immediate prayer request for Brandon and April is that God would give peace to April's heart about leaving Jaden with Michelle (a girl from our Care Group who has volunteered) so that they may attend our Marriage Retreat at CBC the weekend of Nov. 16-18th. Funds, babysitting, and hospitable couples are already waiting open-handed...but leaving Jaden is the last understandable hurdle for April."
~Brad

Our Mission

The following was written by my son Jason Blumer who assisted us in applying for a grant a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, the ministry did not receive any funding but I thought this would give our readers a good understanding of our mission for the homeless in Greenville.

Ministry Mission, Year Founded and Background
The stated mission of Food For Life Ministries, Inc., as agreed on by the Board of Directors, is:

Teach men to be a blessing to God and man through relationships.
More specifically,
(1) Restore men’s lives by presenting role models.
(2) Rebuild wrong thinking by the Word of God.
(3) Plant seeds of hope to bring forth fruit.

Food For Life Ministries Inc is a 501(C)(3) ministry which was started on June 1, 2002 by the President, Paul Blumer. Paul has known the plight of the homeless and their various addictions because he lived their life for many years. Paul started abusing drugs and alcohol in high school. Then after high school, that lifestyle escalated into heavier use and experimentation with more addictive drugs (crack). And as is the usual stories from those we serve each week, this heavy drug use led to the loss of jobs, housing, family relationships, etc. And this process is not simply a one-time event. He entered into a cycle of these devastating events, one always leading to and affecting the other. But on October 1, 2000, Paul Blumer was delivered from these horrible addictions when he received Christ as his Savior, and realized God’s plan for his life. From that very night, Paul has been free from all drugs and the hopeless situation of being without a home. Also, there are other devastations that come with this lifestyle (no driver’s license, distance from family members, inability to remain employed, etc.). Paul, along with an average of 12 other volunteers runs this ministry with a mission – to “teach men to be a blessing to God and man through relationships”.

Community Need
“Charles, where do you stay in Greenville?” asked a volunteer of a homeless man at a recent Tuesday Night Meeting and a Meal.
“I stay close to the bus station and sometimes in the Mission if they’ll let me in,” replied Charles.

Conversations like this one happen every Tuesday night at The Triune Mercy Center in Greenville. It seems unlikely that anyone in Greenville County is unaware of the homeless population, and the urgent need for assistance. It has been reported that there are an average of 1,600 homeless people on the streets each night, but only 1,000 beds available to them in Greenville. A lot of these people come from prison, broken home situations, drug abuse, mental illness conditions, etc. Since the Tuesday Night Meeting and a Meal was started, the meals being served have exponentially grown in a short period of time. There are now an average of 50 to 95 people being served by this ministry each week. And it continues to grow. We WILL outgrow our current location soon as the “homeless network” continues to spread the word of “free food”. And Food For Life Ministries, Inc. is responding to this need out of past experience with a heart to love those in need. The birth of this ministry is from one who was formerly homeless and on drugs.

Meeting and a Meal needs no advertising. The homeless continually spread the word where meals are being served in the Greenville community.

~Marc

Valuable Volunteers

Small pillows and blankets were made by a volunteer friend of the ministry for those who live on the street. She heard of our ministry through her son Shane, who is employed by Paul Blumer. This shows that a thoughtful contribution by someone who is interested in the ministry can have an impact on the people we minister to in Greenville. In effect, she is donating her time for the benefit of others. We are grateful. We know that cold weather is coming and many suffer greatly so we hope to collect more gifts such as blankets, socks, hats, and even sleeping bags (very popular for someone who has no bed). We distribute these items weekly as they are received because there are always new faces and new needs.

We are grateful for the many young volunteers that join us each week to assist us in cooking, cleaning, and serving food. It is wonderful to see that they receive joy by serving others who are less fortunate. We are all making many new friends.

Many of our friends who we minister to are so appreciative that they want to volunteer to help clean and serve. Usually after the meal many will immediately start sweeping, mopping, and wiping the tables, and taking out the trash. We all work together to accomplish a big task. Chris helps me by getting the ice and serving the tea.

We thank God for the help of 13 great volunteers and good friends that allowed us to complete another successful Tuesday night dinner by serving 65 meals at Food for Life.

Let each of us not only look out for our own interests, but also for the interest of others (Philippians 2:4).

Also, thanks to Brad for a great message.
~Marc