Our 1 year anniversary...

It's hard to believe that a year has passed, since God initially called me to the streets of the inner city.  It's been an amazing year and I've seen God move in unbelievable ways.  Tonight, I'd like to share my most memorable moments of 2011-2012 as we ministered in the heart of the inner city.  God is using our ministry to bring hope to the hopeless, life to the lifeless, rest to the restless and light to those who walk in darkness.  I've gained many new friends in this journey and I know God more today than I did a year ago, because of this work.  Thank you to all of you who throw your lives into this ministry and to those of you who help us care for the poor.

The day my vision became a reality:

When God first started to call me to the streets, I had a vision of me preaching in Waterside park with a large crowd gathered around.  In the crowd, there were the homeless, poor, hurting, broken and lost.  These are those who are dear to God's heart and who he has called us to care for.  I've had many opportunities to preach in the streets and God has done great things through the preaching of his word.

God gives me "One":

I'll never forget the first night I arrived in the streets meeting Mira.  This was the first person I interacted with as I arrived in the heart of the inner city.  God has blessed our work and today we minister to 45-60 people on any given Saturday night.  I remember going out to the streets by myself for many weeks and now each week, I have 10 - 15 people who come alongside me to serve our friends.  

God provides:

For the entire year, God has faithfully provided for our every need.  Food alone costs us around $100 - $130 per week.  We have not had one week this year where we were unable to provide food because of lack of funds.  As a matter of fact, there were a couple of weeks when I wasn't sure how in the world God would provide and after much prayer he always came through.  He's provided many bibles, coats, socks, clothes, bikes, blankets, Christmas gifts, etc.  He's sponsored everything!

Ministries:

This year, on top of our homeless ministry we've started a prayer corner where we go out every Saturday morning and intercede for the city of Norfolk.  It's in this place of prayer that change happens and we understand the call of God to pray for our city.  We've also started a bicycle repair ministry, sock ministry and Christmas gift ministry.  

People who are dear to my heart:

I'll never forget Allen and the night he got saved.  I'll never forget dropping him off at the Richmond Outreach Center, where he has been ever since.  Once homeless and without hope, now full of hope and cleansed by the blood of the Lamb.  He still lives at the ROC in a discipleship home where he has an active role in his church and community.   

I'll never forget Mary and Allen - a elderly couple in their 70's who were homeless for 8 years before meeting our team.  Today, they are living in a small apartment in Virginia Beach, warm and well fed.  Mary calls me everyday to tell us how much she loves us - literally. :)

My lovely wife, Steve Zollos, and Aaron Ransom hold a special place in my heart, as they have blazed the trail throughout most of the year.  Rain or shine, cold or hot, they were standing there ready to serve - no matter what.  

Many thanks and much blessing to all of those who have labored week after week to bless our friends and carry out the plan of God.  Thanks for all of your support!  

Fighting the good fight,

"A Church Without Walls"

Having Church during Hurricane Sandy....

A Church Without Walls  - 10/27/12

A Church Without Walls met on Saturday evening even with the onslaught of Hurricane Sandy bringing wind and rain. While many of us huddled in the warmth of our homes preparing flashlights and storing up water those on the streets were still hoping for food to eat, and maybe opportunity to get out of the weather.

Debbie made a steaming hot pot of Beef Barley Soup and cornbread that was perfect for boosting hope for cold rainy night and we ventured out to 19^th Street. We actually hoped that we wouldn’t see anyone on the streets… the weather was just too bad on Saturday as the storm began to rock the east coast.

We set up our table and Nick and Aaron and the others met us there to love our friends and share an encouraging Word with our neighbors. Thankfully there were less than 30 people out that night, and most would get some hot food and head to their makeshift shelters. After Aaron’s word about the Love of Christ the night turned into a time of personal ministry. A number of us gathered around Patrick who received various ‘Words’ from the Lord, encouraging Words, Words of hope and a future…. Manna from heaven straight to his soul. God is so good to his children, even his children on the streets.

One of our friends was hoping to get into an apartment this week, however, an unexpected unpaid bill for $368 popped up and was blocking his way into his new home. I laid hands on my friend and we prayed for God’s provision, for God’s favor. Will you join us in this prayer? God has been so faithful to provide for these men and women over the past year and I trust He will be faithful again.

Tosha and Jessica were there too. What a beautiful surprise these two are, serving Christ in the streets and seeing God’s hand in their desperate situation. Tosha gave me the number for a conference call Bible Study she would be teaching this week. Debbie and called in and were blessed by a powerful and encouraging message from 1Corinthians 13 and the Love of God. Beautiful teaching from the streets…. Who would have thought that God would have His children on the streets? As Joseph said to his brothers, “you meant it for evil, but the Lord meant it for good, that many should be saved.”  How God’s love encompasses all, especially those who are suffering and those who are without a home.

Finally, there was a Muslim receiving food. He said he would give me a copy of the Koran, and I told him I would be honored to receive it. See, God’s grace is on the Muslim too. You should have heard this man agreeing with Aaron’s message of the blood of Christ and His perfect sacrifice. He is a Muslim today, but by God’s gracious power he will be redeemed tomorrow. We simply show him the love of Christ and trust that God will work in his heart and draw him to himself…. Just like he has done for each of us.

How Great is our God. How wonderful are His ways. Even the power of a hurricane is putty in His hands to be molded to bring many to Christ.

Praise Him all the heavens and the earth. 

I wish I could write....

ACWOW 11/10/12

I wish I could write in the true inspiration of the Holy Spirit so that I could relay the power of God I saw working through the hands and prayers of His people last night on 19^th street.

I wish I could write so eloquently that you yourself could taste the homemade shepherd’s pie, and apple crisp that was made in Debbie & Laura’s kitchens and served to those who have no kitchen to cook in. Words cannot express the joy felt by those receiving a truly homemade meal at the hands of friends who love them.

I wish I could express the significance of a Muslim man worshiping the savior after hearing a simple message of God’s mercy expressed through His Son, Jesus the Christ.

I wish I could explain what it is like to have a Jehova’s Witness respond to the Word of God and the powerful love being shown week after week in the streets of Norfolk. But alas, my words cannot convey the beauty of the Savior expressed through the loving hands of His little children.

Would that I could take you with my words to the streets last night to feel the compassion of Christ as an ODU student born in Kenya stood in line for food, and had someone to share in His sufferings.

How great it would be if on my keyboard I could take you on an emergency ride to Walmart to get a blanket for a man who was shivering from cold. If only my words could take you on the trip to hear the prayer in Walmart asking for wisdom on which of the 3 blankets would best serve this one that Jesus loves, only to be told to take all three and to not withhold from those in need… If only my words could convey the humbling of my heart when two more people, not knowing that we had blankets, ask if we might have a blanket for them.

I long to be able to have you see in your heart through my writing how a woman who had been living on the streets only a week before gave a powerful message from the story of the prodigal’s son to her friends on the streets. How she shared her love of God with her ‘family’ on the streets.

It would be my desire to write so powerfully, that you would feel the healing power of the Holy Spirit course through your body like those who stepped forward for healing prayer witnessed last night as we gathered around those who desired a healing touch and to be known by God.

Could it be that my words could show you those who remain trapped in the lie of alcohol, or drugs. Who stand so deceived that only the love of Christ could possibly reach down into their hearts and save them from certain destruction.

How I desire to be able to write in such a way as to convey the love of God shown so tenderly to these hurt and suffering people.