Welcome back! I'm really excited to tell you how God moved tonight at "A Church Without Walls". I love when God interupts my plan with his plan. I feel like tonight was a monumental moment in the life of the vision I believe the Lord has given me. Here's what happened:
I arrived downtown a litte before 7:00 this evening. I parked my car and headed to the Waterside Park. Once again, when I arrived, no one was there. I sat down on one of the benches and started to pray. As I was praying about how God would have me move, God put a song in my mouth. I started singing " You are Holy, Holy, Holy.....You are Holy, Holy, Holy"....I was singing this out loud - loud enough where anyone within 50 yards could here me singing. I remembered John 12:32, "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." I continued to sing for about 15 minutes, random songs, that God brought to my mind. Off in a distance, I saw someone walking towards me. The person got about 25 yards from me and sat down on a bench. I immediately got up and walked towards him. Moments later, I stood in front of him asking him if he would like to hear some good news. He looked up at me a little confused and said, "sure". I introduced myself to him. His name was Carlos. God gave me 2 Corinthians 5:17 for him. I said, "Here's the good news Carlos... If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold ALL things have become new". I said, "Are you in Christ Carlos?" If you are your life is brand new, do you realize that? No matter what you've ever done, in Christ the old has passed away and ALL things are new. I continued talking to him for about 10 minutes about my story and his.
After, talking to him, I walked over to another bench on the other side of the park. I noticed a man riding a bicycle. The bicycle had a basket on the front which carried a bag of cloths and a pair of boots. I approached him and asked him if I could read to him. He looked at me with hesitation and I said, "It's ok brother. I want to encourage you." He agreed to let me read to him. I read Romans 8:35, 38 & 39 - "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." I asked him his name and he said, "My name is Victor." I asked Victor if he has ever heard about the love of God? He said, "No." I said, "Victor, God's love is not like man's love. No matter what you or I have done or will do, nothing can seperate us from God's love, did you know that? He loves us with an everlasting love. He will never leave you nor forsake you, Victor." I said, do you know that God wants a relationship with you and that he sent his son Jesus, so that you could be reconciled to him?" Victor didn't say much, so I asked him if I could pray for him. He let me pray for him and he peddled off.
After Victor peddled away, I sat down on another bench. I said, "God, where are they all? I know there are more homeless men and women than what I'm seeing." Immediately, God brought the Salvation Army to my mind. I pulled out my cell phone and put "Salvation Army" into my GPS on my phone. It was about 6 miles away, so I got up and started walking to my car. As I walked, I could picture homeless people sitting outside of the Salvation Army on the steps or something. I hopped in my car and started following my GPS. As I got within a mile or so, I realized I wasn't in the best neighborhood. It was dark and there were several people standing on the streets. As I turned on to W. 19th Street I was amazed at what I saw....
There were atleast 20-30 people lying on the sidewalk under the canopy of the Hope Center - AKA Salvation Army. They were covered up with blankets. Some of them had the blakets pulled up over their heads. Many others were sitting on a wall talking. I drove through utterly amazed at what I was seeing. I've heard of homeless people, but I never knew there were this many people who had no where to live in one spot. I was deeply moved with sadness, but fear took over and I didn't have the courage to get out of my car. I totally wasn't prepared for this. I asked God to show me where they were and he definatley did. This is what God has called me to, but because I have lived as a Sunday Christian for most of my time as a believer, I'm not sure how to respond. Pray for me...these folks need someone to bring them the good news. Sadly, I drove away in fear, but I'm asking God to give me the courage to go back there next Saturday night.
To be continued.....
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