15 Minutes of Fame

Some say that every one will experience at least 15 minutes of fame in their life. Most seem to be always seeking or expecting fame because they think they deserve it, and when and if they receive it, they always think that it is well deserved. But most who seek it or think they deserve it will only experience a manufactured fame that most would not confirm. That’s why I think it is interesting when some one, like a homeless person, receives that fame, even for 15 minutes, and is shocked to receive that kind of recognition. Maybe that is the only way to receive fame is by not seeking or expecting it. Certainly most would not think that real fame would be experienced by a homeless person who has an addiction to alcohol and has spent his whole life fighting the urge to drown his sorrows in a bottle, but it can happen.

Homeless Danny called me the other day from Charlotte. He had just once again completed detox and was in a half way house. He said that he was calling to tell me about something that happened to him that he never expected. He is attending a church that sponsored a 5 mile walk for the homeless. The walkers were encouraged to solicit sponsors that would contribute to the homeless for every mile they walked. The top money raisers would be recognized at a banquet for their efforts. Danny told me that walking 5 miles is nothing for a homeless person because that is what they do all day. So he decided to enter and seek donations from members of his church. It turns out that Danny and another student received the highest donations. When he was told that he would need to give a speech when he received his award at the banquet, he was petrified. But then he decided tell everyone about Jesus since He was homeless too. He told them how God was working in his life and what it meant to be homeless all his life. Excitedly, he told me that when he finished reading his speech and looked up, everyone was standing on their feet giving him a “standing ovation”. He said he could not believe it. So Danny got his 15 minutes of fame unexpectedly. I told him I was so excited for his accomplishment. After I hung up the telephone I prayed that God would use this to show him that he is important and not just another alcoholic who would continue to fight his addiction for the rest of his life. Will you join me in this prayer?
~Marc

Helping not Hurting

Hello. It has been a while since I have written, a long while. I missed Food for Life many times after the birth of our daughter, and over the past couple of months I have really been integrating it back into my life now that our little girl is not so little any more and my parents are so generously willing to watch her for me. My husband and I have been reading a book that we borrowed from my dad called, "When Helping Hurts, Alleviating Poverty without Hurting the Poor and Ourselves." We both have been struck by a few key concepts during the reading that we have done thus far.

One concept that I am struck with is the fact that it is so easy for us as ministers of the gospel and as volunteers to separate ourselves from the people that we claim to be serving. We say that we are doing these acts of service because we care and we want to help, yet so many times as Christians we mentally separate ourselves from the very people we want to help, putting us in two different categories, this is "us" and "they" are over there. The question is, can we really effectively help them with that mentality without hurting them? Will we ever be able to determine what their real needs are and what the root cause of their homelessness is if we won't befriend them, and I mean truly befriend them? Paul and I feel convicted that the most important thing that we can do for them is not serve them a meal and give them a blanket. It is to share the gospel through friendship. We have to ask ourselves, "Are we truly their friend?" Because friends spend time together, sharing their lives with each other as equals. Obviously, any time we reach out in friendship to someone who struggles with addictions and possibly involves themselves in criminal behavior, caution is in order, but just because we need to proceed with caution, does not mean that we do not proceed at all. It is striking to me how many people will volunteer in the kitchen and in the serving line, but they will not even speak to the homeless people, let alone pull up chair and share an extensive conversation. That is frightening to some. It is difficult sometimes to realize that the homeless are people just like us. They have a past with hurts, they have feelings, they have struggles, and they need Jesus. Sure, they have made some bad decisions, but haven't we all? It is so easy to think, "Ya, but my bad decisions are not as bad as theirs, and why haven't they learned from their mistakes yet." However, life is a journey for us all. We all make bad decisions, and we all repeat the same mistakes over and over again and feel stupid for doing it. The difference is, most of us can hide our mistakes so that the whole world doesn't know what they are. We can't help them until we see ourselves when we look at them.

Over the next few months as Paul and I read this book, pray over the concepts, and share these concepts with the volunteers, we will be writing about the ways that we have found to integrate the concepts and what we are learning about ourselves as well as the people that God has placed in our lives.

~Charity

Give and Take

We had a youth group from North Hills Community Church volunteer last Tuesday night. They were volunteering their time as a ministry project. Many of them already come downtown each week. They assisted others provide 75 hot meals for those in need. We are grateful for those young and old that has a heart to help the less fortunate.

In many ways the homeless are no different than others in society. There are those who are truly in need and verbally thank everyone for any assistance. Others, though, expect to receive what ever they want. They are takers. For instance, I noticed one individual who got some coffee and then took all the packets of sweet and low that was available for everyone. Others were thankful for the coffee on a cold night but there was no sweet and low.

Many had needs such as blankets, coats and especially socks. A pair of dry socks is important on the street. Fortunately, one of the volunteers brought in a good supply of all that was requested. After one individual received a pair of wool socks that he requested, he then wanted some boots size 11 ½. I thought, does he think this is Shoe Carnival. He had on a real nice pair of shoes. We try to meet every need we can regardless of their response. Obliviously, there are times when many take advantage of our generosity. But they are no different from others in society, they have need beyond the physical and that is a relationship with their Creator.
~Marc

The Real Problem

Suresh, from the Evangelical Institute of Greenville, preached for Paul last Tuesday night. Every week Paul reminds everyone that we are downtown for the Gospel. With that in mind, Suresh preached on the meaning of the Gospel.

He asked for a show of hands for those who had problems. Everyone responded. Like everyone, the homeless experience problems such as loneliness, addictions, need for shelter, and need for employment to name a few problems. But these problems are a symptom of a major problem in everyone’s life. The real problem is sin. Sin separates us from God and the only remedy is that it must be dealt with. We can not deal with it by our good works which we think will cover our sin and God will then accept us. There has to be a sacrifice or a shedding of blood to properly cover our sin and make us acceptable to God. Suresh read from Isaiah 59 and Roman 3 which describes sin and it's remedy. There has to be a Redeemer who is Jesus Christ. Suresh invited all to accept Jesus as their Savior and a number of individuals responded. Praise God.

While everyone was eating, Suresh entertained everyone by playing his Sitar. Everyone was delighted with the unusual sound.
~Marc