Church in the streets on Saturday night

A Church Without Walls

1/19/13

“To the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever.  Amen.” 

Although, I haven’t posted in a while, the power and love of God has been at work in the city streets of Norfolk, VA.  Every Saturday, the Spirit of God is at work in the hearts of those we minister to.  God is teaching us about him and we are getting to know God better, as we care for those in need.  He continues to provide for us and our homeless friends.

Just today, as Laura and Tosha were in Wal-Mart shopping for sleeping bags for our friends, two men approached them and in a joking manner said, “Someone’s going to do some camping, as they noticed many sleeping bags and blankets in their grocery cart.  Tosha looked up, chuckled and said. “Oh no sir, we have a homeless ministry in downtown Norfolk and we are buying these for the men and women who are sleeping in the streets.”  He immediately handed her a $100 bill and said, “I want to help.”  What a blessing!  They walked away with around 15 sleeping bags and 11 wool blankets.  Our friends were very thankful, as we handed them out tonight.

When Laura and Tosha pulled up to our house, I was outside loading the van with socks, snacks, cups, etc.  Laura jumped out of the car and said, “Someone just handed us $100 in Wal-Mart to help us buy sleeping bags for our friends!”  She was exuberant and rejoicing in God’s faithfulness!  She saw God provide and knows him better because of this act of His faithfulness.

We loaded everything up and headed to the streets.  We were able to minister to between 60 and 80 people tonight, by blessing them with not only the blankets, sleeping bags and socks, but also with a hot cup of coffee, snacks, gloves, and a powerful word, given by Tosha.  Many people were encouraged and one man even approached me when we were getting ready to leave and he said, “Jimmy thanks for coming out here and encouraging us.  What Tosha shared tonight was exactly what I needed to hear.  The messages on Saturday night are what get me through the week.”  He informed me that he didn’t come to stay in the shelter, but rather he came to hear the word of God.

For those of you who don’t know, Tosha is someone who was in the streets 2 months ago.  Her testimony tonight was not only encouraging to the homeless, but so powerful.  She encouraged our friends to look to God, despite their situation.  She shared how just two months ago she was homeless and her story had weight with them.  She encouraged them to humble themselves and submit their lives to God and to turn from their sin.  Many people gathered around as Tosha led a group prayer.  Many others stayed around after the message sharing their personal struggles and receiving individual prayer.  Here’s what struck me…God used Tosha and her trial of being homeless to speak hope into others who are currently homeless.  Her temporary, light affliction was really producing an eternal weight of Glory.  Her testimony brought God glory and offered hope to the hopeless.

One gentleman approached me and said, “It sounds so easy to stop sinning, but it’s so hard to really stop.”  I encouraged him with these truths, “In our weakness he is strong, greater is He that is in you than he that is in this world, my Spirit is willing but my flesh is weak.”  I saw God pricking his heart and was able to drop truth in his heart.  What an awesome Church Service tonight.  Although, we didn’t have a building, sound systems, bright colored lights, smoke, loud music, etc, we all encountered God.  I saw the power of the Holy Spirit released, as I watched one lady pour out her heart through tears.  I saw the power of the Holy Spirit as one lady started declaring, “I will worship you God, I will worship you God!  Even if I remain homeless I will worship you!”  I saw the power of God as I felt the hand of a man lay on my shoulder as we were having group prayer, only to look up and see the man who always sits off in the distance, very far from the crowd.  Who is like our God in Heaven?  I know why night and day angels surround him singing worthy, worthy, worthy.  I know why night and day the elders are bowing before him!  Who or what can compare to his greatness?!

A Church Without Walls