And preach as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, now go without pay. Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the laborer deserves his food.
Good evening friends,
This week the Lord has been faithful to us once again. It's been a challenging week, as we've encountered some snags and it seems as if the Sanballat's and Tobiah's have risen up against us. I received a call from the Norfolk Emergency Shelter Team (NEST) suggesting that I not show up to feed the homeless anymore, as I was disrupting their program. Again, they feel strongly that "God" is not the only answer to someone changing their lives. They specifically mentioned that they want to be open to every one's religion and extend respect to people and their beliefs. She informed me that we weren't welcome there and if she saw us there she would ask us to leave. I was on the phone with her for about an hour, explaining what we were doing and how sharing the good news gospel message of Jesus Christ would be the only thing that would truly end the reciprocating cycle of homelessness in Hampton Roads.
Well, in an effort to let the dust settle, we started our journey back on W. 19th street tonight. When we arrived there were not many people around. As soon as we got out and started unpacking our things, many people arrived. This week, several people went with us to help us serve food, minister, pray for people, etc. While we were at the Salvation Army, most of the folks had already eaten, so we handed out cookies and had an opportunity to pray for a few people. We left after a short while and drove over to Colonial Ave, where the homeless would soon gather to get into the local shelter for the night. When we pulled up there were only a handful of people, but as we waited the Lord brought more.
I have asked those who went with me and Steve tonight to share a short testimony of how God ministered to them or through them. I will post these testimony's as I receive them. I was very encouraged to see how the Lord provided, again, this week. Steve and I have been praying that God would provide as he sees fit and this week I received phone calls and messages from people whom the Lord had prompted to get involved. It's nice to have different folks come, as when there are many parts working together in the body, it's a powerful thing. Some served food, some just listened to the homeless pour out their hearts, some prayed for others, some encouraged, etc.
I have a couple of quick testimonies and then I allow the others to share. First, I was very encouraged as I ran into a lady name Helena, as I prayed for her last week. One of her prayer request was that she would find her bag that was stolen from her at the Greyhound bus station. She was crying last week, while she was asking me to pray that she would find this bag as she had many of her personal belongings in this bag. Well, I prayed for her last week and asked God to help her find her bag. This week, when I saw her she said, "Jimmy, I found my bag and the Lord answered our prayers." She continued to insist that the Lord was good and although she was homeless, she trusted God and knew that He has always been faithful to her.
My second testimony this week...I received a message from a friend of our family. She lives in Washington DC and works at a Dentist office. She gave us 2 large boxes of toothpaste for the people out in the street. She sent me a message, letting me know of one of her friends - here locally - that volunteered to allow us to have other cosmetics for the men and women we serve. The cool thing is, no one prompted that, this was straight from the Lord and he meets every need, even the ones we don't always think about.
My last testimony tonight...I encountered a man named Bernard. Bernard was a man who struggles with an alcohol and crack cocaine addiction. My heart was moved by Bernard, as I could see the pain and hurt that he was experiencing. I spoke with him for awhile and one thing led to another and I was able to pray for him. He grabbed me around my neck, as if he were resting his arms on my shoulder and he repeatedly exclaimed, "I can't stop, I just can't stop, it's too strong and I can't quit." I instantly was moved to pray for Bernard. We stood in agreement and we begged God to break the power of addiction off of this mans life. We stood in agreement pleading for restoration to come to his life. He was crying and so was I and I felt God's peace come to this man. It reminded me of the story of the demon possessed man in Mark 5. Bernard was grateful and he received a bible. He asked me where he should start reading and I told him to start in Matthew. I suggested that he get to know Jesus from the time He was a baby until the time he was resurrected. I was also grateful for the many bibles that we received today. God has been faithful once again. This morning in my prayer time, I was praying the Lord's prayer and the Lord stopped me on "Give us THIS DAY our daily bread" It hit me that he has and conitnues to give us all we need, day by day. He's worthy of it all.
This morning Steve and I met for our standard Saturday morning prayer. We prayed for salvation to come tonight in the city. I'll let Steve share his testimony of how God answered this prayer. God does answer prayer. He remains faithful!
Walking in His glorious light,
Jimmy
By Steve Zollos:
By Clay Vanryckeghem:
Tonight was my first time going out and feeding the homeless. All day, I was excited for this opportunity, not for what or who I could minister to, but for how this experience would minister to me. The first thing I noticed was how in need, but yet grateful these people were. They all rushed to the van and were fed a hot meal, coffee, and some were handed coats and blankets. After the dinner rush, we sat around and began getting to know people, as they waited for the shelters to open. Some people were quiet, but most of them seemed to really enjoy having people around who just wanted to talk and hang out. I began talking with a man named Scott. Scott spent 22 years in prison and is now sleeping on the streets. I must have talked with Scott for an hour as he told me jokes and stories, all about his job, where he hides his sleeping bag during the day (he would not disclose the location, but did tell me it was in a bush) and lots of offers for cigarettes and drinks of his vodka and cool aid.
Good evening friends,
This week the Lord has been faithful to us once again. It's been a challenging week, as we've encountered some snags and it seems as if the Sanballat's and Tobiah's have risen up against us. I received a call from the Norfolk Emergency Shelter Team (NEST) suggesting that I not show up to feed the homeless anymore, as I was disrupting their program. Again, they feel strongly that "God" is not the only answer to someone changing their lives. They specifically mentioned that they want to be open to every one's religion and extend respect to people and their beliefs. She informed me that we weren't welcome there and if she saw us there she would ask us to leave. I was on the phone with her for about an hour, explaining what we were doing and how sharing the good news gospel message of Jesus Christ would be the only thing that would truly end the reciprocating cycle of homelessness in Hampton Roads.
Well, in an effort to let the dust settle, we started our journey back on W. 19th street tonight. When we arrived there were not many people around. As soon as we got out and started unpacking our things, many people arrived. This week, several people went with us to help us serve food, minister, pray for people, etc. While we were at the Salvation Army, most of the folks had already eaten, so we handed out cookies and had an opportunity to pray for a few people. We left after a short while and drove over to Colonial Ave, where the homeless would soon gather to get into the local shelter for the night. When we pulled up there were only a handful of people, but as we waited the Lord brought more.
I have asked those who went with me and Steve tonight to share a short testimony of how God ministered to them or through them. I will post these testimony's as I receive them. I was very encouraged to see how the Lord provided, again, this week. Steve and I have been praying that God would provide as he sees fit and this week I received phone calls and messages from people whom the Lord had prompted to get involved. It's nice to have different folks come, as when there are many parts working together in the body, it's a powerful thing. Some served food, some just listened to the homeless pour out their hearts, some prayed for others, some encouraged, etc.
I have a couple of quick testimonies and then I allow the others to share. First, I was very encouraged as I ran into a lady name Helena, as I prayed for her last week. One of her prayer request was that she would find her bag that was stolen from her at the Greyhound bus station. She was crying last week, while she was asking me to pray that she would find this bag as she had many of her personal belongings in this bag. Well, I prayed for her last week and asked God to help her find her bag. This week, when I saw her she said, "Jimmy, I found my bag and the Lord answered our prayers." She continued to insist that the Lord was good and although she was homeless, she trusted God and knew that He has always been faithful to her.
My second testimony this week...I received a message from a friend of our family. She lives in Washington DC and works at a Dentist office. She gave us 2 large boxes of toothpaste for the people out in the street. She sent me a message, letting me know of one of her friends - here locally - that volunteered to allow us to have other cosmetics for the men and women we serve. The cool thing is, no one prompted that, this was straight from the Lord and he meets every need, even the ones we don't always think about.
My last testimony tonight...I encountered a man named Bernard. Bernard was a man who struggles with an alcohol and crack cocaine addiction. My heart was moved by Bernard, as I could see the pain and hurt that he was experiencing. I spoke with him for awhile and one thing led to another and I was able to pray for him. He grabbed me around my neck, as if he were resting his arms on my shoulder and he repeatedly exclaimed, "I can't stop, I just can't stop, it's too strong and I can't quit." I instantly was moved to pray for Bernard. We stood in agreement and we begged God to break the power of addiction off of this mans life. We stood in agreement pleading for restoration to come to his life. He was crying and so was I and I felt God's peace come to this man. It reminded me of the story of the demon possessed man in Mark 5. Bernard was grateful and he received a bible. He asked me where he should start reading and I told him to start in Matthew. I suggested that he get to know Jesus from the time He was a baby until the time he was resurrected. I was also grateful for the many bibles that we received today. God has been faithful once again. This morning in my prayer time, I was praying the Lord's prayer and the Lord stopped me on "Give us THIS DAY our daily bread" It hit me that he has and conitnues to give us all we need, day by day. He's worthy of it all.
This morning Steve and I met for our standard Saturday morning prayer. We prayed for salvation to come tonight in the city. I'll let Steve share his testimony of how God answered this prayer. God does answer prayer. He remains faithful!
Walking in His glorious light,
Jimmy
By Steve Zollos:
It really is amazing to see how faithful God is. Today he answered our prayers by sending others to help minister to the homeless. There were 9 of us in all and it was really nice to have the extra hands.
God had a particular mission for me tonight. Last week I prayed with Dirt, but tonight I was called to minister to Bones. Bones just isn’t right. He told me so. According to Bones his girlfriend got shot and killed right in front of him. He told me that it happened 8 years ago and it changed him, slowed him down he said. He had been dealing marijuana and the bullet was meant for him. Now he has nightmares. He’s had a hard 24 years, impossible to my thinking.
He was really nonchalant about my conversation about the Lord until I told him that the reason Christ died was to take our sin, that he could be made new and that he could forget about the past. He could be free from his nightmares, free from his past, and that he could really and truly start anew as God would fill him and renew him from the inside out.
We prayed the prayer of salvation and Bones asked the Lord into his heart. I know that the prayer of salvation is important, but the prayer is not a set of ‘magic words.’ Just because you say the words doesn’t necessarily mean you are ‘saved’ or that God has received you. I gave Bones a Bible and asked him to read at least one sentence every day. I told him that I will be praying for him every day this week. I told him that as he reads that sentence the Lord will open his eyes, and he will have a desire to know God more. I said when that happens you will know that the Lord has begun to renew your mind, to change you from the inside out.
“Lord I pray for Bones and I join with each and every person who reads this blog to pray for him. I ask that you would make yourself real to him. Reveal the truth of who he is to you and your love for him. Lord draw him to yourself. I pray that you will stir his heart to seek your face. Please open his heart, change him Lord, heal him Lord, have mercy on Bones oh God. In Jesus’ holy name I pray.”
By Clay Vanryckeghem:
Tonight was my first time going out and feeding the homeless. All day, I was excited for this opportunity, not for what or who I could minister to, but for how this experience would minister to me. The first thing I noticed was how in need, but yet grateful these people were. They all rushed to the van and were fed a hot meal, coffee, and some were handed coats and blankets. After the dinner rush, we sat around and began getting to know people, as they waited for the shelters to open. Some people were quiet, but most of them seemed to really enjoy having people around who just wanted to talk and hang out. I began talking with a man named Scott. Scott spent 22 years in prison and is now sleeping on the streets. I must have talked with Scott for an hour as he told me jokes and stories, all about his job, where he hides his sleeping bag during the day (he would not disclose the location, but did tell me it was in a bush) and lots of offers for cigarettes and drinks of his vodka and cool aid.
It was encouraging to me to see that "yes" these people need food, but I felt as if they enjoyed the company and friendship more. Though I didn't share the gospel with Scott, I do think he witnessed the love of Christ through those who were there. As I spend more time on the streets with my new friends, I am looking forward to how the spirit will meet me and give me boldness to share the great news of the gospel with them.
Clay
By Wes Dipsinski:
First off I have to say tonight was a blessing for me. I personally take so much for granted, to see people that are truly in need of many things and be grateful for a simple cup of coffee blew me away. The men I talked to are not much different then myself. These men seemed to be grateful to talk, to have someone listen to them and care about what they had to say. I was able to pray for one guy and share that the hope we have is not in this life but in the next. I told him I couldn't promise life would be easier for him but there would be a day when we see Jesus face to face and all of these troubles would be gone. I had a great time, laughed a bit and was able to extend Gods love to people in a very real way.
Wes
By Wes Dipsinski:
First off I have to say tonight was a blessing for me. I personally take so much for granted, to see people that are truly in need of many things and be grateful for a simple cup of coffee blew me away. The men I talked to are not much different then myself. These men seemed to be grateful to talk, to have someone listen to them and care about what they had to say. I was able to pray for one guy and share that the hope we have is not in this life but in the next. I told him I couldn't promise life would be easier for him but there would be a day when we see Jesus face to face and all of these troubles would be gone. I had a great time, laughed a bit and was able to extend Gods love to people in a very real way.
Wes
Your ministry and your friends have me in amazement every week. I love you son.
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