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

Love is the Answer

Tonight we were blessed to have Gary and a friend to provide music. He even prepared sheet music with the words so everyone could sing along. Gary found out about Food for Life from reading the newspaper article about Paul’s catering business and how he has used that as avenue to serve the homeless community. He contacted Paul and now comes every couple of weeks each month to share in music with our friends. Thanks Gary.

Normally, most of our friends are very respectful and give Paul their attention during the Bible study. However, there are times when some just want attention. Last Tuesday was one of those nights. During Paul’s teaching, one individual spoke loudly asking others to “be quiet”. Interestingly enough, he created more of a distraction than the others talking. Then there was the lady wearing a large wooden cross that claims to have a gift of prophecy. Last Tuesday, she gave us her latest predictions. It was a very interesting conversation. She always prays loudly while Paul is praying at the end of the message. Tonight she had some competition. The other individual kept shouting “we love you” as Paul was praying. We never know their condition each Tuesday night, but we are certain that we desire to share our love for them. I am reminded of what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians about love.

If we speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but we have not love, we are only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If we have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and knowledge, and if we have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, we are nothing. If we give all we possess to the poor and surrender our body that we may boast, but have not love, we gain nothing (I Corinthians 13:1-3 NIV).

Tonight Paul continued the study in Romans 13:8-10 about love. In these passages we learned that we should not have any debts other than a debt to love one another. This is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. God showed his love for us by putting us first and now we are called to walk out that love with others.

In addition, we expressed our love for the less fortunate by providing 100 hot meals with the help of 18 volunteers, providing medicated ointment and bandages for a gentleman with bad sores, and providing food and a ride to the hospital for a lady who showed up as we were closing for the night.

Paul wanted me to remind everyone that next Tuesday will be our last Tuesday night before we change days. The following week, we will be Homeless on Thursday for six weeks.

~Marc

Giving a Voice and Lending an Ear

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy (Proverbs 31:8-9, NIV).

Our desire is to speak up for the poor and needy in Greenville. They can not exercise any right for justice or equal treatment and have no influence among the community. They rely on ministries like ours to speak for them, to give them “a voice” so they can speak for themselves. We do this by listening to them and helping them without expecting anything in return. We are concerned about their health, whether they are cold at night, have any food to eat, and their spiritual condition. We speak for them each Tuesday night.

Each week there are as many different stories as there are poor and needy. One individual continues to battle with depression because his girl friend died recently and he some how feels responsible. We were told just this week that he made a profession of faith after discussing the situation with a local pastor. We pray that God will richly bless him in Christ Jesus. Another regular continues to have difficulty with an injury while working as a day laborer. He limps away each Tuesday night looking for a place to sleep. Then there was another who this week was not in any condition to sing and play the piano at the end of the night. He was battling his old addiction again and he seemed to be losing. Some nights are better than others. Then there was a couple seeking a ride to a local truck stop in order to hitch a ride with a “big rig” to California where they have steady work. Others needs include medicine, clean clothes, food, and an encouraging conversation with someone who cares.

We are always prepared to provide food for the body and especially their spirit through God’s Word. But the needs can be as different as the individuals we minister to each Tuesday. But God is faithful and always allows us to meet most needs. We pray each Tuesday night that we can meet as many needs as possible. This week we were privileged to provide 75 hot meals with the help of 18 volunteers.

This week Paul continued with Romans 13 with the over-all theme of submission to authority. This is a very difficult concept for everyone. The Apostle Paul instructs us to submit to the governing authority because they are the instruments of God. This is a message that our prideful nature battles with. Only through God’s transformation of our heart can we truly submit to anyone, especially God. But Christians are instructed to submit to all authority. This includes the governing authority, as well, to one another in the fear of the Lord. Why? To escape the wrath of God. Pride does not allow our submission but it is important that we subject ourselves for escaping the wrath, and for conscience sake for the love of virtue. Blessings will flow to us from our submission.

Paul asked me to announce that Food for Life will move to Thursday nights instead of Tuesday night starting May 29 for six weeks. Our last Tuesday night will be May 20th. Paul and Charity will participate in a birthing class in preparation for the arrival of their child and my granddaughter. We all can’t wait.
~Marc

Good to Be Back!

This week was my first time to be at Food for Life since before Christmas. Just after Christmas Paul and I went on a skiing vacation, and the day after we got home I started feeling quite poorly. Much to our surprise, Paul and I discovered that this feeling that was unfamiliar was pregnancy. Needless to say, from day one I had severe nausea every day, 24 hours a day, for the first tri-mester, and then sporadic nausea and lots of fatigue until my fifth month. I am thankful to have been feeling better for over two weeks now, and it was so nice to actually feel well enough to go with him to Food for Life. So many sweet people from Food for Life and church were praying for me, which meant so much to me.
It was amazing to me how many new faces I saw. So many of the faces I was expecting to see were not there, and so many new faces that I didn't recognize seemed to have taken their places. It reminded me of how transient homeless people are.
I was just telling someone this weekend about how we may have anywhere from 50 to 100homeless people on any given Tuesday night, but far more than that cross our paths in any given year. This is because so many of them will travel, sometimes out of town to go see family, but since Greenville is the place they call home, they will come back in a week or two. Then there are those who just enjoy roaming around the Greenville area. There are people that Paul has been getting to know since Food for Life began several years ago, but months go by in between some of the their visits because they have made their way to the other side of Greenville and were living over there for a while. Because of that, if a person who is trying to minister to this transient homeless community, he or she will have to be dedicated to coming every week to volunteer because it may take many Tuesdays of being available to build relationships. We have been blessed with just such dedicated volunteers, who really are in it for the long haul to build relationships with our hit or miss homeless guests. Please pray that God will continue to send men who desire to mentor these homeless men who need guidance in so many areas of their lives.
We were also blessed to have Ross and Spencer Robinson with us this week. Spencer had a school project that required him to "walk a mile" in someone else's shoes, and he chose Paul. Paul enjoyed so much the time that he spent with Spencer, an eleven-year-old with a very apparent promising perspective on life. As part of this project, Spencer was able to shadow Paul at work and at Food for Life. Paul was so pleased to have spent this time with him.
We were pleased to serve 125 plates this week and had around 20 volunteers.
~Charity