What is a Church?

What is a church? The dictionary states it is either “a building where religious services are performed” or “a group of people who follow the same Christian beliefs”. I wondered about this definition last Tuesday night because an individual left during Paul’s teaching mumbling on his cell phone “this better be important because I am in church”. This individual was not homeless or poor but he was attending the service right along side with all types of people; black and white, rich and poor, Christian and non-Christian, volunteers and non-volunteers, smart and not so smart. All types of people come downtown for various reasons. Sure there are some whose eyes glaze over when Paul teaches just waiting for “amen” so they can eat. But there are so many that take it seriously. They bring their Bibles and listen and expect to receive a greater knowledge of the Word of God. Also, they expect to share it with others downtown. Earlier, in Paul’s ministry, we would hear many homeless say that our ministry was their church. But Paul was always quick to say, that we do minister to individuals but we were not a church. He wanted to encourage everyone to become part of a local church where they could receive on going encouragement and accountability. This is very important. However, I know many who go to church and do not allow themselves to receive any accountability. So are we a church? We are in a building where religious services are performed and we are a body of believers who, each in his own way, ministers to others. We probably are not a church in the true sense of the word, but we are a type of a church who ministers by providing food, clothing and blankets, and preaching true Biblical principles and providing accountability for those who seek it.

An individual attended last Tuesday night who was instrumental in helping Paul begin his ministry by providing a location for his Bible Study. Paul had an idea to start this ministry in his house but this individual offered a downtown location free of charge. Good thing it was free because many nights no one showed up. But Paul told him that he could see the room filled with people listening and worshipping God. And within a year, that is exactly what happened. Even to the point that the fire marshal would not allow us to continue because there were too many people. Then through some downtown connections, Paul was allowed to continue at Triune Mercy Center. Again, it was free which allowed the ministry to continue to grow. As an example, last Tuesday night, we served 100 meals with the help of 24 volunteers which included a girls “fast pitch” softball team called the “Carolina Crush”. But in the beginning a good night was 4 or 5 people and Paul and his family were the volunteers. Now the volunteers come from local employers, all types of churches, homeschoolers, and even softball teams. It seems there are many who want to minister but don’t know how. We provide a venue to allow them to grow spiritually by ministering to others. And what is important, now there others that have that same vision that Paul had downtown 6 years ago; to see a room full of individuals listening to the Word and worshiping God.

Thanks to everyone who attended in 2008. Because of your compassion, Food for Life served 3,919 meals with assistance of 2,327 volunteer hours. I want to wish everyone a prosperous new year and look forward to 2009 to see what God will do in the lives of everyone who attends each Tuesday night. God Bless.
~Marc

Christmas Gifts

Christmas is here. We had a great time last night sharing the real meaning of Christmas through song and the scripture in the gospel of Luke. Paul presented a powerful sermon and one individual made a profession of faith in Christ at the end of the message.

The Woodside Church of God came down with their youth and brought blankets and coats. There was a wide selection and many left with bags of clothes. Food for Life gave each person a Christmas card with $5.00 in McDonald’s food coupons. I wondered how many would show up at McDonalds at one time. Homeless Dwayne received an oil lamp with fuel and a flashlight with batteries. He was all smiles because that is very useful living in an abandoned building. We usually don’t give money but we made an exception for homeless Eric. He received $10 from his favorite volunteer.

After we cleaned up, we gave some a ride. Eric went to the Mission, Frog to his place of residence across town, and Johnny and Debra on the way back. Since we only have two seats, the rest of us were crammed into the back of the van. I am thankful we were not stopped because we would probably look a little suspicious to the authorities.
~Marc

Powerful Testimony

Another great Tuesday night at Triune Mercy Center; we served 85 hot meals with the assistance of 18 volunteers. Two of the volunteers are friends of ours who are missionaries from Alaska. They are in Greenville for the holidays and came down to help Paul. We appreciated their help and especially enjoyed visiting with them.

The highlight of the night was a testimony by a man who 6 months ago was on the street with his children. He testified how God has changed him and his family through the ministry of Food for Life. It was very powerful since many of the homeless knew him personally and could visibly see the impact of God’s grace through Jesus on his life. That is what we all desire for everyone each Tuesday night.

Next week we will meet on Monday night instead Tuesday. We changed the day in order for Paul to attend before he leaves on a trip to Colorado. We have been planning for a great Christmas feast and some gift surprises for all who attend. We are grateful for Adair who raised a considerable amount to fund our Christmas party. This time of year we enjoy getting together to not only experience the festive atmosphere but also to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas to all from Paul and Food for Life Ministries and may everyone have a happy new year.
~Marc

Encouraging Testimony

GE employees continued to assist other volunteers each Tuesday night. Some volunteers work in the kitchen cooking, washing dishes, and serving the food. Other volunteers come each week to provide the music as they did this week. And occasionally, someone will substitute for Paul if he can not attend. This week Patrick did a great job preaching God’s word for our edification. We all chip in to get the job done each week regardless of the work each performs. This week we served 66 meals with a total of 19 volunteers.

One of the volunteers told me that he had gone through some of the same problems we see every week. He had experienced the same addictions and even jail time among other things. He was now clean and just wanted to volunteer to show others that there is hope, and that they can go from being served to being a servant. I appreciated his testimony because we all desire to see change in their lives. That is why we come down each Tuesday night.

The above picture is one our friends. He makes walking sticks to sell. This one is not finished but it did look very good. I am amazed at the talent we see every Tuesday. One of the homeless even played the piano while everyone was eating. Regardless of his situation, he was willing to share his talent with all of us.

As a reminder, Food for Life will be on Monday (Dec. 22) instead of Tuesday (Dec. 23) the week of Christmas. We changed the night so Paul could attend. He will be leaving town on Tuesday. The following week we will return to our regular schedule.
~Marc

Conversations with the Homeless

That’s William. I told him to act natural but he chose to act unnatural. Is he trying to disguise himself or is he just acting up. He has been coming downtown for as long as I can remember.

I talked to Steve who is on the street. He has a college degree and an alcohol addiction. His father is a doctor and his sister has a master’s degree. He told me that he has had very good jobs but his addiction keeps calling him and he can’t resist. He said he would even steal for a can of beer. That is sad. I wonder if all of us regular folks are any different. We all are bent toward sin in one way or another. The battles that we fight, most don’t even know about.

Also, I talked to Wayne. He and his significant other live in an abandoned building. He said there are many homeless there that have taken up residence in different parts of the building. It is almost like each has a separate apartment except there is no rent or heat. They use cardboard to keep the wind out and use candles and flashlights for light. Fortunately, no one seems to bother them. He told me about a 19 year old college girl living in their building with another homeless guy. He said her parents have come and pleaded with her to come home. She refuses because she wants her freedom and she does not want anyone telling her what to do. Dwayne and others have told her she is crazy. I think they realize that she has a home and loving parents which most of the homeless never had.

After the meal, Frank had a few suggestions for Christmas gifts for the homeless. He said socks, stocking cap, flashlight, razor, and MacDonald’s coupons in a zip bag would be appreciated. Also, he was real interested to know if we were going to raffle off a week’s stay in a motel again. The year before last, he won the prize and was hoping he would be lucky again.

Last Tuesday night we shared a meal with 55 friends with the assistance of 14 volunteers. Even though we live in different worlds and experience different problems, we are the same in many ways. Each Tuesday we try to share our love and concern for others unconditionally.
~Marc

Happy Thanksgiving

Last Tuesday night was our annual Thanksgiving feast for our downtown friends. The place was packed. I can only estimate that we served about 185 meals based on the number of plates used. We counted 70 volunteers who were kind enough to bring covered dishes to add to the turkey and dressing. Even though there were tons of people to feed, there was tons of food. We all were very thankful for God’s grace and the fellowship of friends. It truly is a time to count our blessings whether we are on the street or just visiting downtown once a week. Thanks to everyone that made it a great success. ~Marc

Homeless Eric

So many things happened last Tuesday night. We had 18 volunteers and served 85 plates of food. So many of the volunteers are not just showing up but are conducting their own ministry. One volunteer had purchased $100 of wool socks for the homeless. Every homeless person that came in, he would say “let me see your socks” and then to their delight they would receive brand new pair of socks. Keeping your feet dry and warm on the street is very difficult. Some came in with coats that they distributed to those who were in need. Some of the homeless requested blankets which we had an ample supply to meet that need. One volunteer rewarded the kitchen help by ordering Papa Johns pizza for them to eat while cleaning up and washing the dishes. It was yummy. I could not resist.

One of our long time friends, Eric, showed up last Tuesday. Although, he has been coming off and on each Tuesday since Paul started 5 years ago, we had not seen him for two or three weeks. I have always liked Eric. He is always happy and smiling regardless of his circumstances. He even told me that he and another friend were “flying a sign” (panhandling) and he was advised to stop looking so happy and waving at everyone. His friend told him that homeless people should look sad but that is not Eric. I could use a little of his disposition. Check out the following video where Eric talks about Food for Life Ministries. He told me that taking a Toastmasters class helped him to give this speech without any preparation.



After we cleaned up, Paul set the alarm to Triune Mercy Center. Each of us left to give a couple of our friends a ride. Eric had placed his blanket next to the door while taking the trash to the dumpster. When he retrieved his blanket he heard the burglar alarm. We had barely got out of the parking lot when Eric ran across the street to tell us about the alarm. I called Paul and we met back at the building. We determined that there was a loose connection on the door and reset the alarm and then left again. We drove up the street when I saw a blue light behind us. It was the police. I was concerned because we were sitting on the floor of the catering van with no seat belts. Unfortunately, there are only two seats in the van and we had given those to the ladies. But it turned out that he was only concerned about the status of the alarm and did not ticket us for not using a seat or a seat belt. We were very grateful.
~Marc

Hard Times

This picture is me and one of my homeless friends. We get together each week and share how difficult our week has been and he always wins. Most would think it could not get any worse on the street, but it has. Another friend, Wayne, was really discouraged this week. He is homeless but looks decent and does work. But unfortunately he can’t make enough to get any type of housing. But lately, he told us that it was getting worse on the street. The day labor has not been available as in the past and he has even had a hard time selling his plasma for money. It is hard to make an honest living on the street.

A couple of weeks ago, someone gave Wayne a really nice flashlight. The only problem was they did not give him the 6 C cell batteries to make it operate. When he showed up last Tuesday, he had accumulated 4 batteries during the week but still could not use the flash light. Paul went to the store to purchase the remaining two batteries. When you are sleeping outside a good flashlight is a must.

Paul finished the study of Romans this week. He started this book over 2 years ago and it has impacted the lives of many that have attended during this time. Last Tuesday, he covered the benediction in Romans in verses 16:25-27. In these verses the Apostle Paul is saying bye to everyone in a way that only the Apostle could. He emphasized that Christ is the only one who can establish us according to the gospel. The Apostle Paul starts and finishes Romans with Christ.

After most had left, many of the musicians stayed around and enjoyed a jam session. We are grateful for their participation each week
~Marc.

Yes We Can

I don't recommend any political party just because I use that slogan, but I do think it can be used to reflect Paul's determination to serve the homeless and poor in Greenville. When he started this ministry many thought he could not keep pace by serving every Tuesday night for any extended period of time. Especially, since the ministry is not afflilated with any organization to provide the necessary funds. But five years later, Food for Life Ministries is still going strong. God has blessed us by providing the donations just at the right time.

Also, we have been blessed for the last five years with volunteers that have faithfully served along side Paul and provided not only funds but also provided the many necessities for the homeless. One such volunteer started two weeks ago and got so excited that he and his wife spent all day Saturday purchasing items to distribute to the homeless. This last Tuesday, we had a blankets, clothes, and shoes for every person that attended.

I thought this is the first time that we were able to meet every need until a older homeless lady showed up with a special need. She asked for $3.00 to purchase adhesive for her false teeth. She definitely needed it. We gave her the money and she kissed Tony and I on the forehead. I asked Tony if he was going to tell his wife that he was kissed by a homeless woman. He said probably not. You never know what to expect each Tuesday.

Last Tuesday we served 85 hot meals with the assistance of 18 volunteers. We are fortunate to have so many individuals from different organization such as GE, colleges, and various churches in Greenville. Food for Life has always served and been served by so many people from different backgrounds. For that we are thankful every Tuesday night.
~Marc

Food for Life

Last Tuesday night a first time volunteer asked me: “where do you get all the food?” I guess it does look daunting to some when they see us serving any where from 80 to 125 meals each week and, especially, since we don’t just serve enough food to keep someone from going hungry but to provide a good meal including a meat, vegetables, fruit, and a dessert. Our competition is not other “soup kitchens" but restaurants that emphasize quality and quantity.

The answer to their question is that our primary source of food comes from StreetSide Catering which is owned by Paul. Every week we raid the refrigetor and fill our van to capacity for the trip down town. After we unload the food at Triune Mercy Center, the “Sarge” in the kitchen, decides what additional food is required and then someone will make a quick trip to a local grocery store. Most of these purchases are funded by ministry donations.

Paul mentioned last Tuesday night that many have asked him if he still has a food ministry. The thing that they don’t understand is that Food for Life Ministries is not about feeding people although we do feed people. What the ministry is about is studying the Word of God. For the last 2 years, Paul has been preaching through the book of Romans verse by verse. Food for Life Ministries is about making sure everyone downtown has a clear understanding of the doctrines of the new birth, the corruption of the human nature, and the necessity of the influence of the Holy Spirit to break the power of sin in their lives. This is the food for the soul and it will provide the nourishment that will change lives for eternity. That is the real food that we freely distribute each Tuesday night. Our goal is that no one leaves hungry.
~Marc

Challenges and Celebrations

Every week there are challenges and celebrations. Most of the immediate challenges each week are providing food, blankets, and clothing for homeless individuals. The above picture is one who showed up needing a coat. I noticed that he had a golf club (a 5 iron). I assume he used that for protection on the street.

Another challenge occurred last Sunday night, I recognized a lady who was attending our evening services at North Hills Community Church. Although she has been consistently homeless in the past, I was pleased to find out that she was staying with her son. One of our volunteers had taken the time to bring her to church with the promise to go with her later to the emergency room. It seems that she had received some injuries on the street and needed some medications. Bonnie and I decided to go with them to the hospital. During the inevitable wait, her son kept calling us to see when she would be returning to his house. I thought to myself “what a thoughtful son”. Although, I must admit, I also thought there may be some other reason but I didn’t know what it could be. The doctor checked her x-rays and diagnosed her injuries that justified the medication. We got the prescription filled and another volunteer took her home. Later we found out the rest of the story. The lady’s son took her medications and kicked her out of house. Net result, she is back on the street. The challenge now is to assist her with some type of shelter.

But with every challenge, there is a celebration. One homeless man has been coming downtown even though most people would not expect him to be homeless. He is clean cut and well spoken. One of our volunteers has a landscaping business and decided to hire him for a week. He didn’t need an employee but he wanted to see if he would work if given the opportunity. He told me last Tuesday night that he was amazed how well he performed during the week. He said that most would have thought that he was the owner of the business. He worked hard, was punctual and quickly became proficient with all of the equipment. In other words, he was a model employee. Now the plan is to help him get some decent clothes and some place to live so he can get a regular job. If that is accomplished, this would be something to celebrate.
~Marc

Man and Children in Need

As many of you know, Food for Life has been helping a man and his three children in need as of the last few months. We were able to help him get into an apartment, and many people donated furniture and clothes. Soon after, the children's mother came to live with them, but then this week she left again. She is the one who currently gets the food stamps, and that is how they were getting their groceries. Now that she has left, they have no means to get groceries, as it takes the majority of his paycheck to pay the rent and utilities at the apartment.
We are asking that anyone who is interested in helping would donate giftcards to Bi-Lo, because their apartment is accross the street from Bi-Lo. They need the giftcards as soon as possible.
Also pray that this will be a learning experience for the father, as he is a new Christian and is learning the importance of making right decisions in his relationships. Donated cards could be mailed to our home (2903 East North St. Greenville 29615), or they could be dropped off to Paul at Streetside. We will immediately get the giftcards to this family.
Thank you,
Charity

What is your plan, the will of God?

Hey Followers of Homeless on Tuesday,

This is a copy of this weeks message. We are all on a path to know God's will for our life. So, read and enjoy God's word.

Planning can be everything, and nothing. The heart of a man has many decisions to make, but the heart of a man is also deceitfully wicked. Should we trust our heart? Many times people will tell you in the midst of hard decisions,” Just trust your heart, or follow your heart. This raises a question,

What if your heart is against the will of God, what if your heart is wrong? Truth is at the heart of God. With God it’s not just about a feeling or opinion, it’s about following truth in order to achieve truth.

The reason that the Bible tells us the condition of the heart is to remind us of the focus of the heart.

All people have Self on their heart!

Man is for the most part conniving, and scheming with a plan to accomplish. So many times their plans are foiled by the reality that God is in control. Even the Apostle Paul dealt with this. The difference with Paul was his allegiance. Paul believed in making decisions, but he didn’t believe he should make them on his own. He didn’t believe in following his heart, he believed in following “The will of God.”


22 For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. 23 But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, 24 whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. Making a plan is not bad! I even encourage planning. In fact, we need a balanced plan. If our plan is for the enhancement of others, yet at the same time enhances the gospel, we have planned well. If we follow according to God’s plan we also may benefit. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. 25 But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. Paul always put the Gospel at the front of every plan; his plan was God’s glory being displayed. It didn’t matter what arena he was in. Work or play there was no separation. 26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. 27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. 28 Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. 29 But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
Romans 15:22-29

The Apostle Paul had a plan. His plan was to preach the Gospel, but his plan was also hindered. He told the Roman Christians that he wanted to come to them by way of Spain. Paul reached Rome, but theologians are not sure if he ever made it to Spain, and we know what happened in Rome. So, what do we do when we think we are on the right track, but find out that God has another plan?

Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach.

Tony Robbins

This is sometimes hard for people. If we are committed to our plan how do we leave room for God to change the plan? When I don’t know what to do, I do what I am already on track to do, and let God make the changes so I know it’s him. Don’t let change freeze you! Keep moving. When you’re going through Hell, DON’T STOP! Keep moving!



Standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous; you get knocked down by the traffic from both sides.

Margaret Thatcher




13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

James 4:13-15

The will of God for our lives is a relationship with Him through Christ. Nothing else is guarantied. God wants us to look for His will in a relationship, not a person place or thing. We get hung up in the details, and let God be the after thought. We ought to let God have the details, and we become the after thought. Put your focus on the Word of God. Get to know Him. He has not left us guessing. He tells us who He is, He is our father and He loves us.
~Chef Paul

Valuable Volunteers

I am constantly amazed at the level of participation by our volunteers. They come from different backgrounds, churches, and businesses. This week I wanted to highlight a group employed by General ELectric. One of the engineers organized a group of their employees to participate each Tuesday night serving the homeless and less fortunate in Greenville.

Many of the other volunteers not only serve on Tuesday nights but also during the week. One volunteer meets regularly with a couple of the homeless during the week for coffee. Another volunteer has spent many hours in the emergency room assisting the homeless with their medical needs. They all have shown that caring for those less fortunate is not just one day a week. Food for Life is fortunate to have those types of caring volunteers.

Last Tuesday was calm compared to the previous week. We served 108 hot meals with the assistance of 18 volunteers.

~Marc

Guest Blog

I asked one of our faithful volunteers to guest blog for last Tuesday night. It was a very difficult night but I believe Anthony did a great job describing what happen to all of us.
~Marc

I would have to say that since I have been going to Food for Life, tonight has to be the most emotional night for me. I picked up a buddy of mine and we made our way there. On our way we saw a woman sitting on the sidewalk with her head in her hands. I recognized her as one of the homeless woman that sometimes comes on Tuesday nights. We stopped and asked her if she’s ok. She told us that she had just been beaten by a couple of men. I got out of my truck to see how badly hurt she was and tried to convince her to let me give her a ride to Food for Life. What I saw broke my heart. She looked at me and asked me if I was going to hit her. A million thoughts started racing through my mind. I would never hit anyone or hurt anyone. I looked at her lovingly and said "no I will not hurt you". She asked me and my friend several times before we got her in the truck if we were going to hurt her and to the best of our ability we finally convinced her that we would not hurt her. On the way there I felt so overwhelmed with emotion. First of all I could not for the life of me believe that anyone would do this to a helpless and homeless woman despite her intoxication. I felt so heart broken to see her in such a state. When we arrived we helped clean her up. Another lady convinced her to call the police and then an ambulance arrived and took her to Shepherds Gate which is a place for battered woman.

Then everyone went into Triune Mercy Center and we all gathered in a big meeting room to eat and start the worship service. I got to tell you that the worship tonight was amazing. We sang some really great songs about how amazing and wonderful our God is; songs like fairest Lord Jesus and open the eyes of my heart. We sang and reveled in how awesome and how great our God is and I could not help to be reminded of how desperately we need Him for everything, and how much I love Him for what he has done for me in my life. My friend, Dan, sang a song for us that he wrote which was such a blessing, and to top it off, Paul sang a song too. But right before Paul started to pray for the meal, one of the homeless guys named David started singing a song for us and we were really taken back. It was really great. I could not believe he could sing so well and the Lord really touched my heart. Then the food was served and we all ate and had fellowship with each other. We all shared what God was doing in our lives, and we shared God to the ones that do not know him. We really had a good time getting to know each other. It really means a lot to a homeless person to have someone eat with them and just spend time talking to them. Think about it; these people are rejected everyday, all day by everyone. They are looked down upon because they are the “low life of society”. They have nothing and it is very difficult to get off the street so many often face addictions to various substances. Also, many have mental illness and fight depression. It means the world to these people that we spend time with them and build relationships with them with a simple “how are you doing” or “good to see you tonight”. It means a lot to these guys and gals that are broken and torn.

After the meal, I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. I turned around to see a lady pointing to one of the men who had just walked in. She informed me that this is one of the guys that beat up on the lady we picked up earlier. So I walked over to the guy and start talking to him. He was drunk and kept saying over and over that he wanted help or he was going to kill himself. He started crying uncontrollably, I stood there looking at him and my heart really hurt for this guy. I was very angry that he had hit a woman and I wanted to give him a piece of my mind. But I looked at him and was reminded of myself before the Lord saved me. I was at one time spiritually broken, tattered, beat down and ragged. This is what God saw when he looked at me, and he still had compassion on me and showered me with his grace and mercy, as undeserving as I was, He did it because He loved me. This guy did not deserve anything. He made his own choices that got him into this position. He had drank too much and beat up a lady. Does he deserve my compassion? Most people would think not. It’s the chopping block for him!! I looked at him and told him what he did was not right and that he would have to face the consequences. But I gave him the Gospel. I got to share with him that God sent Christ here to die in our place because we could not redeem ourselves no matter how much we worked at it. Then the police came, and as far as I know, after they questioned him, they called an ambulance and took him to the hospital. I don’t know what will happen to Becky, the lady who was beaten, and David, the man that had a part in it; but please pray that God will use this to draw them to Him. More than likely they will be back on the streets tomorrow and they will go back and get in the same situation. But God promises in 1 John 1: 9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

To tell you the truth none of us deserve God’s goodness, but he loved us so much that he showered us in his grace and mercy at no cost to us. We cannot do anything without Him; it is His strength that is perfected in our weakness. So when it comes to being involved with the homeless or just anyone, remember that God had compassion on us and that we should display the same compassion to others.
~Anthony

Physical Needs

Many people we serve each Tuesday night are some of the poorest in Greenville. This couple is an example of those that come for something to eat and occasionally receive help with their personal needs. This week this lady explained that she had surgery and could not pay for her medications. Her husband does work as a tanner but as anyone might imagine has very little work in this field. Food for Life provided the medications she needed and the following week gave them some assistance with their utility bills.

Another concern was for someone who required transportation to the Emergency Room to enter detox. This is the only detoxification center available at night. When an individual decides to make that step, we try to provide the transportation to meet that need. Thanks to Danny, one our volunteers, for his concern and driving him to the hospital after we finished last Tuesday night.

Unfortunately, many of the problems we see can not be easily fixed with food and a ride to the hospital. Last Tuesday, a couple came in with a baby. One of our volunteers questioned them about their housing arrangements. They explained that they were living with a relative. However, another homeless man told us later that they were actually living in a large concrete pipe under a bridge. Naturally this caused great concern because a child was involved. Since we didn’t know for sure, one of our volunteers, Anthony, contacted a friend who was a policeman to check out this area to see if this couple was there with the child. Anthony stated he would not be able sleep at night without knowing that the child was safe.

We are thankful for all that serve each Tuesday night. With the help of 18 volunteers, we served over 100 hot meals. Also, Paul continued his study of Romans. We can not always meet every physical need but we can freely give spiritual food to everyone which is food for the soul for eternity.
~Marc

Sequence of Events

Most wonder what happens at a Homeless Ministry; so this week I thought I would give the sequence of events for each Tuesday night.

The volunteers arrive about 7:00pm. They park in the back of Triune Mercy Center and walk up the sidewalk and enter at the side of the building. Our services are conducted in what would be the fellowship hall for the church next to the kitchen. Many of the homeless come in as soon as the doors are opened. We prepare ice water for them to drink while we prepare the food. Paul usually coordinates with the kitchen on the time the food will be ready because the meal is served at the conclusion of the services. Each week we have music and Paul continues with the study of Romans. Everyone usually attends the services except for those who are preparing the meal in the kitchen. The following two short video clips will give you an idea how the services are conducted. The music video is a little dark because we had the lights off to read the overhead screen. At the conclusion, everyone gets in line for the serving of the meal.
The Music

The Preaching


Last Tuesday, we served 65 individual meals and prepared an additional 25 take outs. We had 18 volunteers of which 10 worked in the kitchen and the remaining spent their time talking and counseling the homeless during and after the meal. Later, all of the volunteers and some of the homeless help clean up before we leave. Also, during this time Paul and other volunteers are evaluating many of the homeless needs. Some one usually goes to the store to purchase various items for distribution. Last Tuesday we distributed blankets and a pair of shoes for a gentleman who was in flip flops.

We usually finish about 9:30pm. We encourage anyone who would like to volunteer to just show up each Tuesday night.
~Marc

Hug the Homeless

When you hug a homeless person, you can expect to smell like a homeless person. We don't normally hug people because most would not appreciate that kind of attention. But last Tuesday it was necessary and appreciated by one individual who was distraught. He had apparently over dosed on drugs the previous week and was revived at the hospital. It scared him and the way he dealt with that was by drinking. Tuesday night he showed up intoxicated and constantly talking about his brush with death. Anthony and I talked with him and put our arms around him and prayed that God would save him and protect him on the street. He cried and hugged us back as we ministered to him. On the way home, I had to roll down the windows because of the smell. It made me think about him and all the others who come down town. I wondered where they had been during the week and where they would sleep each night. Even the next day, I could still remember that smell which reminded me to pray for all of our friends downtown who have no hope.

Last Tuesday we are grateful for 14 volunteers who were willing to take time out of their busy schedule to serve 65 hot meals to the less fortunate in Greenville. I will never take them for granted.
~Marc

Good Music and Food

Every week many show up tired and hungry. Some have not slept during the night but have spent their time walking in order to keep from being noticed. Others find a "cat hole" but don't sleep very soundly because there is always the risk of assault or someone stealing their possessions. So it is no wonder that many are not very friendly and are short tempered. But one thing that seems to soothe their nerves and take the focus off of their problems is music. Last Tuesday night we had a group that sang Praise and Worship music to the delight of everyone. I saw many, that usually can be a problem, tapping their feet or clapping their hands and it was all to the Glory of God. We are truly blessed when different groups show up to provide music before Paul teaches. There is usually less distractions because their moods seem to change. Just like every Tuesday night, we do not have a predetermined program to follow. We just allow God to send those we need.

Another event happened before our Tuesday night ministry that Paul had to address. It seems that our long time friend Eric was seen "flying a sign" in Greenville for money. Even though he made $50 in one hour (according to him), Paul assured him that his behavior was contrary to his professed Christian beliefs. Also, he could receive a nuisance charge by the local authorities for panhandling which could result in a fine and/or time in the jail. In addition, we all impressed upon him to earn money the old fashion way; a job. Eric seemed to take the advise very well. Later, we gave Eric a ride across town where he knew someone who would let him spend the night.

We served 100 meals with the assistance of 18 volunteers. We had a very large crowd and ran out of food. Paul made a trip to Church's Fried Chicken to provide food for the remaining folks. It is very difficult to plan the quantity of food not knowing what kind of turn out we will have each week. But in the last five years, I don't think we have had to send out for food more than 3 or 4 times. We usaually have what we need to meet others needs.
~Marc

Meeting Needs

Every Tuesday we receive various requests from the homeless. This week Becky asked for a flash light because it is dark living under a bridge at night. That is all she asked for even though it was obvious she needed much more. Bonnie left while everyone was eating and purchased a flash light and a blanket. Unfortunately, we do not always have on hand what is requested so a trip to the store is not unusual. Wayne seemed to be satisfied this week and did not ask for anything. He related to me that he had a ticket from labor finders for a temporary job and felt his future job prospects were good. He always looks neat and clean even though he and his significant other are sleeping on the street. He even offered me some of his anti-bacterial gel to clean my hands before serving drinks that night. He had received that little gift from a local church. But some homeless are not as social. Ike came in at the end of Paul's message and kept mumbling. Fortunately, it was never loud enough to disturb anyone other than few sitting close to him. He wanted his meal and a quick picture and then he was out the door.

Last Tuesday we served 55 meals with the assistance of 14 volunteers. Our kitchen manager (we call him Sarge) was out of town this week but a first time volunteer came in and filled his role perfectly. God always provides. We even had few younger volunteers who seemed to enjoy helping serve tea and water. We are grateful for young and old who take their time to come each Tuesday night to minister to the homeless and less fortunate in Greenville.

~Marc

New Life

There was a very good reason why Paul did not attend last Tuesday night. On the previous Friday, 08/15/08, Paul and Charity were blessed by God to welcome into the world Mckenzie Carmen Blumer. She was 5 lbs and 8 oz and was 19 inches long. Everyone is doing well and the Blumers are spending their time with their new daughter and my granddaughter.

We had two of our volunteers give the message from the Word of God on Tuesday night. Tony gave his testimony how God had saved him. He described his life before Christ and how God is His mercy reached down saved him from his sin. It was very encouraging to everyone. Lee, another volunteer, expounded on John 3:30 that stated that "He must increase, but I must decrease". This verse refers to John the Baptist who exalts Christ but as Lee explained we also must decrease and Christ must increase in our lives. Our focus should be on Christ and not ourselves. Only then will others see Christ through us.

Cathy, another volunteer, who is a nurse was kind enough to check the blood pressure of many of our downtown friends. She checked 14 individual and found 6 to have high blood pressure. These folks were referred to the Medical Clinic for treatment. We appreciate everyone who uses their talents to provided for the less fortunate downtown.

We had a good turn our last Tuesday night. We provided hot food and drink for 100 individuals with the assistance of 14 volunteers.

The a picture on the right is one our friends who wanted to show us his best friend.

~Marc

Talking Back

Sharing the Word downtown can be difficult at times. Unlike in church where everyone will sit and listen to your message, the homeless downtown will talk back to you. It can be very helpful because it allows us to develop a dialog with some for further discussion. But at other times, it can be very distracting. It takes someone special such as Paul who can respond with humility but at the same time maintain order and clearly articulate the Gospel.

Last Tuesday night, Mark Brewton was up to the task of substituting for Paul who could not attend Tuesday night. I was amazed that a young man could be asked to speak without any preparation and in ten minutes could stand up give an exposition the Lord’s Prayer in Luke 11 and. in addition, answer the inevitable questions from the crowd. I am very thankful for Mark’s service each week and especially for sharing the Word with our downtown folks last Tuesday night.

Last Tuesday we were blessed to have 16 volunteers. Many worked in the kitchen preparing and serving 75 hot meals. Some spend their time talking and praying with the downtown folks and others assisted in providing much needed clothing or transportation. They provided shoes for a lady who was wearing flip flops and a shirt for a gentleman who was in a tee shirt. Even at this time of year, there are requests for blankets, pillows, large shirts and shoes for men. If anyone would like to donate those items or funds for that purpose, please contact us.
~Marc

Our Tax Dollars Help

Recently, I heard a statement that “bums should not be allowed in the library because they do not pay taxes". I thought at the time that I should have reminded this person that the library is for the public; like public roads. We don’t check with someone walking down a public street to determine if they pay taxes. I think her real concern was being around the homeless. She would rather see these individuals spend their time away from public buildings and more time around ministries such as soup kitchens or homeless shelters. I agree that these ministries are important to the homeless, but I think the public library also provides a real service to the homeless in Greenville. It is a place where they can find a cool place in the summer and a warm place in the winter. So what, if they take a snooze in a chair, I have done the same thing. But more importantly, the library provides a means for the homeless to stay in touch with their families through email. This service could be instrumental in reestablishing a connection with families that could help them get off the street.

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The library is not a ministry such as Food for Life, but it does provide a real service for the less fortunate who live on the streets. I am grateful that my tax dollars are used help those who do not pay taxes.
~Marc

Come and Go

Many of the homeless and volunteers come and go for different reasons. It certainly is not natural, by the world’s standards, to attend a weekly ministry with people who are not naturally pleasing to be around; especially with all the other distractions we have in this world. Many volunteers attend out of curiosity, but may not have a real passion to serve the less fortunate. They come a few times and then we don’t see them return. There are others who attend every week without fail. I was talking to one such person last Tuesday night. He told me of the difficulties he had experienced in his life and how he wanted to help others that were experiencing similar difficulties. His form of volunteering was to spend individual time with as many of the homeless as he could. He always waited until the meal was served and then he would sit across from an individual and spend that quality time showing that he cared. He told me that his desire came from heart knowledge not head knowledge. He said he had read a lot of books on counseling but nothing prepared him like the passion he had in his heart for loving and caring for each person. His only problem was that he could not spend as much time as he would like with every single individual. We all have different talents downtown. No one has to tell a volunteer who attends every week what to do. Each of them recognizes how they can best serve and they just do it. It does not matter whether it is getting the food together, making the tea, or preaching the Word. We are all lead by the passion we feel in our hearts.

Many of the homeless don’t show up every week. Some find a better place to receive a free meal or a cooler place to get out of the heat. Last Tuesday night, one group showed up and saw me taking pictures. They wanted their picture taken and requested a few different shots. Usually when I take out my camera, either they will not want their picture taken (for various obvious reasons) or they immediately start posing. I guess we all want to be in the lime light unless we are hiding. However, there are those that come every week. They bring their Bible and focus on Paul’s message and are looking for a Word from the Lord concerning their situation. They enjoy the meal but mostly they are seeking Spiritual food. They are the first to help prevent distractions and the first to help clean up and say “thank you” when they leave. They, also, have an investment in our ministry and feel like they are part of a family that many never had growing up.

So where does that desire come from to perform an unnatural act when there are better things to do according to the world’s standards. I think the answer can be found in the Bible. It is a heart changed by God. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, “know the Lord” because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest’ declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 33:33-34).
~Marc

Who is your neighbor?

Hello friends and family of Food for life,

I want to start off this week by saying thank you. It has been quite a journey, but so many people have stepped up and given their support of Russell and his family. Only a people who realize God's kindness in their own life could give on this level. Many times people fail to remember their own state of depravity. When we forget what God has done for us, we fall into a pit of judgement. This is a picture of the kids you are supporting.

In the parable of " The Good Samaritan " a lawyer stood up and tested Jesus by asking a question. "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "What is written in the Law?" The lawyer quoted scripture from Deuteronomy & Leviticus, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all you soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself" (Luke 10: 25). In the parable of the good Samaritan Jesus told a story of a man that had fallen pray to robbers. The Scriptures stated that the man came down from Jerusalem. He didn't give any other details other than the basics. Jesus didn't speak of the man's past, his state of mind, whether the man was a good man or bad man, or whether the man brought this upon himself. In the parable He gave three scenarios, a priest, a Levite (both community leaders), and a Samaritan. In His parable Jesus said this certain Samaritan had compassion. Then He asked the Lawyer, "So which of these do you think was a neighbor?" The lawyer replied, "The one who showed mercy." Jesus said, "Go and do likewise."

So many people have a deep issue with showing mercy on others. Mercy should be shown according to whether mercy is deserved or not. Jesus said, "Go and do likewise." What a joy it is to be free from judging others and their situations. God has treated us with such kindness. Food for Life desires to be a good neighbor. We want to show mercy. We believe mercy has been given to us.

This week one of our faithful volunteers was talking with a man. The man told him he had been trapped in Greenville for days. His home is in Tennessee, yet he had been walking the streets for about three days without clothing or food. He told a story about coming here for work, and then through a series of circumstances, became homeless on Tuesday. When I told the man we were sending him home, his face dropped and the only thing he could say was, "Tonight!" What a joy. We do this in the name of Jesus, who is one day sending us home.

This week Food for life had the pleasure of feeding 72 people with the help of 14 volunteers. Thank you to all who give their time and money to help us show mercy.

Chef Paul

Helping Each Other

Last Tuesday night Lee Headley, Charity’s cousin, did a great job breaking down Luke 9:23-26 describing what Jesus meant when He said “to take up your cross and follow Me”. It is amazing how God always provides what we need each Tuesday night. Paul was sick that night and there was no one prepared to bring the Word to our group. Lee walked in and asked “how can I help” and Bonnie said “you can preach”. He spent about 30 minutes in preparation and brought a convicting message to everyone. Praise God.

Our ministry is not only to the homeless, but also to the less fortunate in Greenville. Probably about 50% of the individuals we serve have jobs but are poor. Most work at minimum wage and have a difficult time financially. They come each Tuesday night and share a meal with the homeless. They can identify with them because many are one pay check away from being in the same situation. In the past we have helped some financially when they were on the verge of losing their utilities or facing eviction. One such couple was so appreciative that they started assisting us by providing transportation for others in need. This week we had a battered lady who needed a ride to a Spartanburg hospital. She had already made the necessary arrangements for admission but just needed the transportation. This couple that we had helped in the past volunteered to drive to her to Spartanburg. It is such a blessing when we see individuals, we serve, start to help each other.

Please continue to pray for the family that Charity described in the previous post. Since they have now moved from a motel room into an apartment, they are not living in one room for the first time in many months. This is especially important for the little girl. The father is working and we are thankful for the assistance we have received from our ministry supporters and North Hills Community Church. This family will continue to have financial needs as the children prepare to start school. If anyone would like to donate to our ministry for this family, please use the donate button on the blog or contact Paul or Charity.

We continue to be pleased to serve a hot meal each week to our friends in downtown Greenville. This week we served 60 meals with the assistance of 14 volunteers.

~Marc

A Special Situation

Recently Marc mentioned a special situation in which Food for Life has gotten involved. A few months ago, a man started coming to Food for Life for the Bible study. He started getting to know Paul and made a profession of faith. About a month ago he called Paul and confessed that he was in a desperate situation. Because of a series of circumstances that appeared to be beyond his control, he was being kicked out of the place in which he lived along with his three children.

Food for Life jumped on the opportunity to help him and his children, knowing that it was certainly going to be a situation bigger than us, but one that we would trust God to work out. Within a matter of days, Paul was able to help the guy find part time work, and Food for Life was able to financially support him for the following three weeks. Just days before this took place, one of my single, female friends had mentioned that she would like to do some babysitting for the summer. She has been providentially available to take care of the children on most of the days that their father has had to work, which has been a huge blessing. She really has a heart for the Lord and ministry and is using the opportunity to minister to the children, which have been completely unchurched and are learning for the first time about the Lord Jesus and what it means to be a Christian.

It appears that things are coming together for us to be able to assist the father and his children this coming week in getting into their own apartment. We have had various friends and church members offer to give pieces of furniture, and we are praying that the rest of their material needs will be met over the course of the next few days. There are so many needs that Paul and I see that we would like to be able to meet. We are simply praying for God's provision, as the needs are great, and it will take many helpers in order to provide to all of them.

Two things that we ask our friends to pray about are as follows:

1) We need women or families who would be willing to help with babysitting, especially after the summer is over and our current babysitter is unavailable. One of the children really struggles with reading, and we are hoping to get him some help with tutoring, or at least get volunteers who are willing to work with the children after school for a couple of hours that could help them with their homework. Babysitting is really our greatest current need. Paul and I are currently helping with the babysitting, but our baby is due in 7 weeks, so our availability is soon to be quite limited.
2) We are also in need of material donations for his apartment. The current needs are as follows: a couch, living room chairs, end tables, a bedroom dresser, curtains, plastic containers for food, pots and pans, wall hangings, small bath and kitchen towels and rags, shower curtain and rod, shower mat, and trash cans for the kitchen and bathrooms. Also, basic items are needed, such as trash bags, dish detergent, toilet paper, paper towels, soap, shampoo, clothes washing detergent, vacuum cleaner, and broom.

We of course covet the prayers of believers for wisdom on our behalf and continued spiritual growth on behalf of this special family.

We were pleased to serve 55 meals this week with the help of about 15 volunteers.

~Charity

Weekly Needs

Last Thursday Lincoln shared the Word with our down town friends. He and many of his friends from the Evangelical Institute have been coming each week to volunteer their time. We are grateful for their support in the kitchen, and for ministry on a personal level. The above picture shows that his message provoked further discussion with an older gentleman that has been coming each week.

A woman came into the kitchen as we arrived and asked for something to eat. We advised her of the meal time and then she wanted to talk to someone concerning her problem. She had apparently been abused and battered and was looking for some assistance. Her boyfriend had been arrested and was in jail and she was concerned for her safety. After some discussion, she decided that she wanted to return to another city and see her young children who were staying with a brother. Bonnie took her to a trailer in a bad part of town to get some of her clothes and then to the bus station to purchase a ticket. The bus did not arrive for a couple of hours so everyone retuned so she could get something to eat. After the meal, Bonnie returned the lady to the bus station at the appointed time.

This week our friend, Eric, informed us that he found a place to stay. For weeks we have been concerned about him living on the street. It seems that he has some temporary shelter by helping an older gentleman in town in exchange for some free rent. I always am amazed at how resourceful Eric can be to meet his needs.

Next week, we will be Homeless on Tuesday again. Paul and Charity have finished their classes and we will return to our traditional night of Tuesday. Thanks to everyone who have been flexible during this time. We have the best volunteers (Christian friends) in the world. May God bless them all.

~Marc

Life Downtown

Last Thursday night when we arrived, I noticed that someone was feeding some of the homeless across the road from our location at an abandoned gas station. I was told by some that a local church had set up there to feed and share the gospel. Since it is the same night we are feeding and ministering, it has resulted in a slight decline in our numbers. This week we served 49 meals with the assistance of 12 volunteers. Although, we have considered continuing Thursday nights indefinitely, this may require us to return to Tuesday after Paul finishes his classes. I would appreciate any feed back from our volunteers either as a comment on the blog or directly to Paul concerning the best night to meet the needs of the community.

One of the most difficult situations we see on the street is homeless adults with children. It is very difficult for us to provide any long term solution to this problem. Currently, we are ministering to a young father with three children. We are providing short-term housing and even baby sitting services so he can work. He had been coming by himself for a couple weeks before asking Paul for help after his wife left him and their children. Please pray for this family and for us as we minister to this family. There are very few ministries available for this type of situation.

It seems that every week individuals show up late wanting food even after we have finished cleaning up. This week, one individual who is a regular did show up late but he had a good excuse. It seems he was downtown and had a few words with another homeless person and the authorities arrested him on a charge of “nuisance behavior”. I have heard from others that this is generally the charge the authorities use to make a sweep to remove some of the homeless off the street. He showed me the ticket he had gotten to verify his story. Fortunately, he was released after about twenty minutes but he needed something to eat. Since he does come every week and listen to Paul’s message, I decided to break one of our rules and give him some money for a meal.

One of the major reasons for homelessness is mental illness. I have seen so much evidence of that in many people that come through our ministry. You can have an intelligent discussion with a person and all of a sudden, they will say something that definitely is out of the ordinary. Early in Paul’s ministry, we had an individual that would come each week and sit by himself. You could see him talking to some imaginary person by his actions during the meal. He told us of elaborate plans for different businesses that he was considering. He even prepared written plans and budgets which he had accurately calculated his success. One week he showed up after missing the last two weeks and I asked him where he had been. He responded that he had just gotten out of jail. It seems that he was arrested for trying to change the locks on a church that he had previously purchased.

I saw further evidence of this last Thursday night. We gave a couple a ride home. Since our catering van has only two front seats, this person and I were sitting on the floor in the back of the van. He began to tell me of the difficult time he has with hearing voices. He indicated that once he did take medication in jail that seemed to help but now he does not take any medication. He has the belief that it is the result of a stomach problem that causes him to get mixed up in his head. Fortunately, he is not homeless because he receives a disability check each month. Many are not so fortunate. Most are on the street dealing with mental and/or physical problems associated with homelessness. Our desire is to meet all of their needs but most importantly it is the need of their heart to be changed. We know that God through Jesus can change a person regardless of their condition.

~Marc

In the Beginning

Last Thursday night Paul decided to give his testimony because he felt that there may be some who had not heard it before. In the same way, I decided this week to give a short description of what prompted my son, and ultimately our whole family, to get involved in this type of ministry. It is my desire to give credit to the power of God to change lives and to encourage others to utilize their skills to help others.

My son, Paul, had abused drugs and alcohol during much of his life. We tried everything to help him but nothing worked. Programs did not work. Short stay in rehab facility did not help. Even a short stay in jail for a DUI did not work. But what did work was that Paul was changed by God's Spirit on Oct. 1, 2000. He definitely was a new creation. Paul had spent some time on the street, so he felt the need to help the homeless receive the same transformation. He convinced the owner of a Christian Coffee shop in Greenville to let him use it for a bible study on Tuesday nights in downtown Greenville. It was just my son (at that time he was not married), Mom and Dad (that's me). A couple of weeks no one showed up. It was just us having a bible study. Then a young homeless boy showed up one Tuesday night. We fed him pizza and ministered to him. At that time he was living under a bridge in the downtown area. The next Tuesday he brought in 14 more homeless and we were off and running. Since I am a CPA, I applied for 501(C) 3 Non-Profit status and now receive some financial support off and on from relatives, friends and volunteers. Mainly, the food is provided by my son’s catering business, StreetSide Catering Inc. Later, we out grew that location and moved to an old church that was turned into a ministry for the downtown folks. They let us use the facility each Thursday night.

We don't see as much change as we would like, but then again we don't know what God has done for some folks. People seem to come and go. Recently, I wrote a post on “Giving a Voice and a Lending an Ear” that highlights some of our activity. Honestly, it probably would not have been something that I wanted to do, but after close to 5 years, I can say that some of my best friends live on the street. That young boy that helped us start out still comes and he has been our “go between” for our world and his world. He is what I call a guest homeless. He bounces around between people who let him sleep on their couch or in a spare room. Usually that does not last long and he is off again but he always shows up each Thursday night.

We continue each week because we have a passion to help others. Many feel that they do not deserve our help because they do not appreciate our efforts, but this is not the reason. It is based upon God’s grace. The best way for anyone to start a ministry or any other community activity is to find out what your passion is and then fill it with your time.

~Marc

Testimony of a volunteer

There is a man who has been volunteering at Food for Life that agreed to share a brief testimony and share what God has been doing in his life as a result of his time at Food for Life. The following includes his response to some questions I asked him. I asked him to share because I felt that his testimony could be an ecouragement to our readers.

What is a brief description of your testimony? "After being raised as a church goer, but not having a real relationship with Jesus Christ, I was graced by a vacation Bible school with some local missionaries who were used by God to lead me to receiving salvation by grace, through faith and I began my relationship with Jesus at about age 12. Then in high school I drifted away and fell into serious pride and sinful habits including multiple addictions. Only after landing in prison did I "come to myself" and return to God and humbly cry out for His forgiveness. He granted that and much more. To His glory, God has restored my life and joy and I now am highly motivated to go out and serve others who may be ready to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and become truly set free as I have become."

How did you hear about Food for Life and what made you interested in helping? "My Dad, who knows me well, clipped an article from The Greenville News about Chef Paul and Food For Life Ministries. Dad gave me this article because he knew I would find it interesting. As soon as I read it, I knew that I would want to help, but also did not know how I could find enough time to help."

How has your heart been touched by being a part of the ministry at Food for Life? "By God's grace and to His glory, I just stepped out in faith and took the time that I did not think I could afford. I showed up at one of the Tuesday Nights and was RICHLY blessed by the message that was taught from The Bible and even more blessed by seeing people live out that message. Now the most joyful time of my week is after helping to serve people in need through this ministry. Some of the people I meet think that they do not have hope, but when they find out that I was in prison and am now doing great, by God's grace, sometimes they realize that maybe there IS hope for them too. It blesses me to no end to think that God can use me in His soul saving and heart healing work."

~Charity

Now is the time - Line Up !

It is hard to believe that less than 3 weeks ago, it was cool and damp with many on the street asking for blankets or a change of clothes. However, last Thursday night it was sweltering heat with the temperature approaching the 100 degree mark. Naturally, the requests were more in line with the change in weather. Everyone wanted a cool place to rest including lots of cold ice water and tea. We are very fortunate and thankful that Triune Mercy Center allowed our 14 volunteers to serve 60 meals in their air conditioned facility. This is a real blessing not only for our street friends, but also for our faithful volunteers.

I am always amazed how much time Paul spends with the each homeless individual. He always gives each one his undivided attention. As soon as we arrive each night, I see individuals "lining up" in order to talk with Paul. Some are requesting clothes, a room for the night, a bus ticket out of town, a job, help with their bills, a ride across town, or many just want some money. Everyone can use a little money; sometimes for the wrong reason. Others just want to give Paul suggestions what to preach. This night, one individual said he was writing a book on how to interpret the Bible and wanted to give Paul a few of his suggestions. Another, more importantly, needed individual ministry. Paul was privileged to talk and pray with him after the meal. Our desire is to present the true Gospel straight from the Word of God and minister to the hopeless on an individual basis. We are very fortunate that many of our volunteers are equipped and willing to assist Paul in this endeavor.

This Thursday Paul continued with Romans 13:13-14. The overall theme is the understanding of the urgency of the time and that our salvation is nearer than we may believe. If that was true at the time Romans was written, how much more urgent is it today. It is important that we all realize that time is short and as 2 Corinthians 6:2 states now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation. We can not just focus on our earthly needs at expense of our eternal destiny. It is the difference between eternal misery or eternal bliss. This understanding fuels our ministry each week.

Please pray for Paul and his volunteers that we may advance the Kingdom of God each week and we would never be ashamed of the Gospel, because as the Apostle Paul stated in Romans 1:16, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes. That includes all of us, including our friends on the street.

~Marc

Updates

Updates and Prayer Requests

This past week was the first week that we met on Thursday. We will be doing that for the month of June while Paul and I have our birthing classes on Tuesday nights. We wondered if we would have a struggling number of volunteers and homeless people, but we had plenty of both, which was great! It is so wonderful how many faithful volunteers we have that are willing to make themselves available every week to help and pray for the homeless people that we are trying to reach out to, and it is really wonderful when they are so flexible. The homeless people had apparently heard that we were changing from Tuesday nights to Thursday nights because we had a really good turn out.

I wanted to give a brief update and a prayer request or two.
Paul is still preaching through Romans, but he will be finishing soon, so pray for him as he chooses which passage he should work through next.

I am still praying for the lady that I was teaching to read named Deborah. I started teaching her how to read during the winter of 2005, and I tutored her for two and a half years, but only once a week. The progress with her reading was slow, but progress was taking place for which we were thankful, but more importantly it was enabling me to have the opportunity to build a friendship with her and encourage her to make some new right lifestyle decisions. I have been praying for her that God would help her to make some particular decisions that I believe are very necessary for her spiritual growth but also for her safety.

During the time I worked with her she seemed to starting to experience some personal conviction, which made me so pleased. Then I got pregnant and was so severely sick that I missed several months of Tuesday nights, and the tutoring was impossible to maintain. I would like to pick it up again, but with the baby coming, I feel that my plate is quite full and will be getting even more full during the beginning of my new life as a mommy. Please pray for me that I will find a way to start tutoring her again and continue our friendship so that I can be helpful to her. It will have to be in the right time, which I need God's wisdom in order to identify.

We appreciate the constant prayer and support of those who read the blog. Thank you!

Charity

Lights and Action

Last Tuesday night a film crew showed up with cameras, tripods, and all the paraphernalia that is needed for filming a segment either for the 6:00 news or a short miniseries on TV. Many of the homeless were wondering if they were going to be shown on the local news. I am sure that many would have no interest in that type of notoriety since some would not want themselves to be recognized for various reasons. However, it turns out that the Evangelical Institute was filming a promotional video for their school and wanted to include some of their students working in local ministries (such as Food for Life). Their students will be graduating next week and will return to their homes literally all over the world. We have been blessed this year with their faithful service and ministry each Tuesday night and we will miss them.

Tonight we diverted from the Romans study to consider John 3:14-18. In these scriptures the word “believe” or “believed” is repeated over and over. I have been thinking about this word “believe” and its meaning reflected in these scriptures. Obviously, it does mean that we believe that Jesus was a good man, a great teacher and that he taught everyone how they should live in this world but it is much more that. Belief must include the understanding that each one of us is vile and full of sin and that we are perishing. The Bible clearly states in many passages that life is short and during this time on earth we are preparing ourselves for eternity. Eternity will bring either bliss or misery. Believing is not a mere intellectual or a theorical understanding of Jesus and what he did on the cross but it has to be literally internalized within our very soul. We must BELIEVE Jesus is our personal savior from the wrath to come. When John 3:14 states “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life”; we must believe that Jesus was lifted up on the cross for me and you. And when it states in John 3:18 that “whoever believes in Him is not condemned; but whoever does not believe stands condemned already”; we must believe that each of us individually has either put our trust and assurance in what Jesus did on the cross for each of us individually or we will be condemned for eternity. Only when we have that realization can we truly believe as it is stated in these passages.

The numbers were little off tonight. We served 55 hot meals with the assistance of 12 volunteers not including the film crew. There was a terrible storm right before our ministry time, so some could have found shelter and decided to just stay put. As usual we did have some last minute requests. One needed a prescription filled. Another needed some food as we were closing and two others need a ride. Some form of ministry takes place from the very moment we arrive until we close the doors and leave. It can be difficult to meet every need but God is faithful and seems provide just what we need for each situation. Again, thanks to our volunteers who make it happen each Tuesday and a very special “thank you” to Adair and Ann Brewton for their dedication each week.

Again, a reminder that starting next week, we will minister to our friends on Thursday nights instead of Tuesday for the next six weeks.

~Marc