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