The Saturday before Easter Sunday is often referred to as
‘Holy Saturday’ and what better way to celebrate our Savior than serving
others.
A Church Without Walls joined hands with First Presbyterian
Church of Norfolk, New Life Providence Church, P.B. Young Elementary School,
The Young’s Terrace Community Center, St. Paul Methodist Church, St. Mark RZUS,
Granby High School, Trinity Presbyterian Church, a Home School group, and
Regent University to bless the Young’s Terrace Community with the love of
Jesus.
It’s truly amazing the blessings that can go forth when
believers join hands to serve. Bike repair ministry, bounce house, egg hunt for
the little ones, music, face painting, story telling, photo booth, raffle,
hotdogs, soft drinks, and on and on.
We shared the love of God first in service and then in Word.
It was a glorious afternoon as we gave over 400 people a healthy serving of
Christ’s love.
When we were leaving we saw children riding their bikes
through the neighborhood with their faces painted in glorious colors. One boy
who received a bike made a point of waving to us as we left and thanked us for
his bike. “That makes it all worth while,” Jimmy said as we pulled out of the
neighborhood.
It was a perfect reflection of what ‘A Church Without Walls’
is all about, the children of God joining hands to bear fruit in the name of
Jesus. Today everyone involved produced fruit abundantly, just like Christ says
we will do if we are ‘in Him.’
"I am the vine, and you are the
branches. Whoever remains in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit... (John
15:5a)
A
Church Without Walls is open to proclaim the Word of God 24/7. It goes where
you go. It is Christ in you, being expressed by you, in your life, and to the
people that the Lord brings into your path – anytime and anyplace.
Jon
Festa, who lives in Martinsville, Virginia sent us this testimony of God’s
faithfulness:
Alright,
so me and my friend went to the streets of Roanoke. We went downtown and were
walking and met a man, I can't remember his name it was a name I don't think I
have heard before. My friend approached him and asked if we could pray for him.
He said he had just gotten out of jail a week ago and needed prayer. We prayed
for him and declared the word over him and just destiny. He became teary eyed.
I felt God said to ask if he'd ever accepted Christ as his Savior, he was kind
of unsure. So my friend and I prayed for him to receive Christ. It was
awesome, but one of the most awesome parts is when we prayed with him and he
prayed to accept Jesus. It snowed!! It only snowed while he accepted Christ! I
was reminded in that moment of the scripture Isaiah 1:18 “though your sins are
like Scarlett I will make you white as snow.” So we had God confirm his word
with a sign and wonder.
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. (1 Corinthians
4:20 HCSB)
Jon Festa is in the vine and bearing fruit in keeping with
his faith – and heaven celebrates. Thank you Jon for your faithful commitment
to Christ and for being ‘A Church Without Walls.’
Send us your testimonies of how the Lord is working through
you and we will be glad to share your testimony with others.
Jimmy delivered a powerful word on the streets tonight as he
recounted the story of the blind man that Jesus sought out, put spit and mud on
his eyes, and then told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam.
Why was he blind his disciples had asked, supposing it was because
of the sins of his parents.
Jesus corrected their thought patterns, explaining to them
plainly that it was not about anyone’s sin, but so that the glory of God might
be displayed
When the man washed the mud off he could see. He was blind
from birth but now, for the first time in his life, he could see.
It was impossible. No one had ever been healed of blindness
from birth.
After Jimmy finished preaching this message we were all
encouraged that we had each been anointed with spiritual ‘mud’ on our eyes.
That we too are blind until Christ opens our eyes so that we can see our sin,
and His righteousness. We were encouraged to go before the Lord this week and
wash away the mud on our eyes in private before the Lord and we were assured
that the Lord would meet each of us as we believed on His name.
As we were wrapping up a young man said as he was walking
past, “Yeh, if God loves me why don’t he give me a dollar?”
I stopped from addressing the crowd and asked what he needed.
“I need food, I haven’t eaten all day so why don’t he give me food?” he replied
snidely.
I told him there was food right across the street on our table,
but I wasn’t aware that it was all gone by this time. When I found out I took him
to Taco Bell (his choice) and while he ate we had an in depth discussion about God
and the Word. At one point we were even quizzing each other on our Biblical knowledge
and I found out that this young, broken 24-year-old man knows a lot of
scripture – Chapter and verse.
I was able to encourage him in the Lord. I told him that he
had a call on his life. That he had a unique gift in memorizing scripture and
that he should pursue the Lord and inquire as to who Jesus really is in his
life.
I have learned on the streets that even those who are
mockers are hearing and are able to respond to the Word of the Lord, and that
they are often times ripe for being ministered to.
Blessings to you too, and may the Lord wash the mud from
each of our eyes that we might see Him more clearly.
I don’t know about your family, but when my family gets
together it is a blast. Tonight we had a family reunion on Starke Street in Norfolk, and it was a happening place to say
the least.
Tonight we came with food, but there were so many people
that we ran out in the first hour, so we went to Wendy’s and got 50
cheeseburgers to go. The lady at the window made me pull up to make sure it
wasn’t a prank and when I told her we were serving the homeless they double-timed
the order and blessed me as I left. The burgers disappeared in a matter of
minutes.
We also had chips, granola bars, coffee, and an assortment
of clothing. The nice thing was that we had so little to pack up when we left
tonight.
Early on a man asked Jimmy if he had an extra Bible like the
one Jimmy carries; thin, flexible leather bound. He told him he didn't have
one, but that he would try to remember to get him one and bring it next week.
About 30 minutes later Kathy Allen placed two thin leather bound Bibles
on the table to be given away.One was
brown like Jimmy’s, and the other was pink.Jimmy told Kathy that a man was asking for one just like it and then
walked over to him and said, "God heard your request, and provided this Bible
for you." The lady sitting next to him asked if he might have another one?"
He gave her the pink one. I would have been enough to see these folks longing for God's Word, but God steps further and provides for those who ask. He knows our
needs even before we open our mouths.
After that a man named Tony came and declared that ‘God is
so good.’ He told the story of how God delivered him from an alcohol addiction
and he knew it was God.He had tried
Alcoholics Anonymous but it did not work for him so in his desperation he cried
out to God and God heard his cry. This homeless man was so excited about God
and how He had blessed him so much.He
said a man gave him a small car.Then he
needed something fixed on the car and someone else gave him the money without
him even asking. He was so grateful to God. Not only is God moving on the hearts of these people, folks are recognizing the hand of God and giving Him the glory!
Last week we asked Patrick, a homeless man who Jeremy is discipling, to prepare a
Word to share this week. He came prepared and shared a message on patience. He
explained how Job and others patiently waited on God, and how we must do the
same, no matter our situation. He spoke to the situations that he knew people struggled with on the streets and shared his testimony of how God opened a door to provide him a job at 7-Eleven. A job at 7-Eleven was a huge thing and we honored God for His faithfulness. The people on the streets respect Patrick and
many gathered around to hear the Word.
As a result of hearing the Word another man confessed to struggling with
alcohol, and that he was depressed because his mother is suffering with severe
Alzheimer’s disease. Tears rolled down his face as Kathy, Jimmy, and I prayed blessings over this man. The power of the Holy Spirit was palpable.
I prayed for a woman who came from Spain to bury her mother and through various circumstances found herself homeless on the streets of Norfolk.
Kathy and Jaylene blessed us all with worship songs, Debbie
gave Susan her sweater, and Noah blessed people with sodas tonight.
Every Saturday night is a great family reunion. We have
food, fellowship, and share the Word of God. What could be better?
We pray God’s rich blessings over each of our readers.
‘A Church Without Walls’ Ministry was started as a result of
prayer, and we continue to see God working powerfully as we continue to press
into our relationship with Christ Jesus in times of prayer.
Our prayer meetings are usually held at my house on Sunday
mornings leaving plenty of time for everyone to attend their churches. This
Sunday the Lord met us in a particularly powerful way. It was encouraging and
motivating to our hearts.
A pastor friend met with me recently to share a word about
the Lord giving me the ability to reach into His storehouse, the very
storehouse of the Lord, and take from the ‘shelves’ and apply it to the needs
that the Lord revealed to me. I have taken that word very seriously and look to
our Father in faith that it will be done even as we ask of Him.
At the prayer meeting it was noted how many of the people we
serve on the streets have no vision for their lives. One man in particular’s sole
desire was for a place to stay and cable TV. Jeremy encouraged the brother that
God has so much more for him than just cable TV. It was a pitiful vision so we began
to pray for him and the others on the streets that God would increase their
vision for His purpose in their lives.
As we prayed I reached into the storehouse of heaven and
took from the shelf the very spiritual balm that dropped the scales from Saul’s
eyes and by faith applied it to our friends on the streets, that they might see
the Lord and His goodness clearly.
Then the Lord had us apply the balm to our own eyes. We were
convicted that we too had much too small a vision for what the Lord wants to do
in our own lives and with this ministry. We were settling for spiritual cable
TV when the Lord has so much more for those who ask. The word came forth to ask
big things because our God is much bigger than we have allowed ourselves to
understand. By faith I applied the balm to my own eyes and the eyes of those
who were praying.
It was a powerful time before the Lord. We prayed for the
folks on the streets by name. We asked for healing, we asked for vision, we
asked for hope, and jobs, and for the grace of God to be upon us all.
I do not want to forget to tell you about Saturday night on
the streets as well. Despite the ‘reasonable temperatures,’ it was another
evening that was biting cold. I don’t know how these people survive on the
streets on nights like this.
On the way there Jimmy had a discussion with his seven year
old son, Noah, who was discouraged because he didn’t have a job to do since it
was too cold to pass out sodas. They asked the Lord to give Noah a job tonight
as he served on the streets with us. Before the night was over Noah had given
his knit cap to a woman who was cold. The Lord gave him opportunity to serve
Him sacrificially tonight and Noah stepped in and did so without having to be
prodded or told what to do. At seven years old Noah is already producing fruit
in keeping with his faith. Glory to God.
Jeremy preached a powerful word on forgiveness and I could
see in the eyes of the people that surrounded him that this was a massive ball
and chain around the ankles of so many on the streets. He shared the story
about one of the men on the streets that he disciples and how he had forgiven a
person in his life. This man’s testimony reminded me of the Pilgrim’s Progress
as he described the burden that was lifted from his back the moment he had
extended forgiveness.
One man, who had been drinking, cried before the Lord and
thanked us for the encouragement saying through tears that sometimes
he just needs an encouraging word to get him through the week. We gathered
around him and declared by faith his power over his addictions in the name of
Jesus and the freedom that awaited him in Christ.
I’ve come to realize that the Lord always moves in power,
whether subtle or overt, but always in power. He moves in the lives of the
children, the stricken, the faithful, and even in the hearts of those who
oppose Him.
Finally, just a reminder that all are welcome to serve, or
to come to our prayer meetings. God will work powerfully through you as you
serve others in His name. You will be surprised at the amount of fruit you will
produce as you remain in Him.
Miracles happen every day, but sometimes they’re difficult
for us to see.
It was one of those nights in Norfolk where the temperature
was 40 degrees, but it felt like 27. We pulled up our hoods, and paced back and
forth to keep warm, but God was ready to show us His work.
It was amazing a number of months ago when the security
guards let us pray for people in a government building. We thought ‘what favor
we have been shown.’ Tonight, however, God showed us that he was not done with
his work. Over the past months, as we ministered to the homeless, God was
ministering to one of the security guards.
What a blessing to come out last night to see the security
guard come over with a bag full of McDonald Hamburgers, and start to hand them
out to the homeless! Last week Jeff took off his shoes and gave them to
homeless man. Tonight, the security guard goes to McDonalds and spends his own
money to help ‘feed the 5000.’ How GLORIOUS is our God! He spent his own money.
He took the initiative. He became a minister of the Gospel last night and it
really was glorious to see. It just goes to show you that the Word of God does
not come back void, but accomplishes its purpose for which it was sent forth –
and God’s purposes are far beyond our expectations.
Aaron preached last night sharing from the Gospel of John.
He preached a simple message of God’s love as the homeless gathered around to
listen. Jeremy played worship songs and we all joined in. After the preaching
of the Word the homeless men initiated a prayer circle, where the security guard joined us, and Aaron prayed for all
of us. Jimmy shared a powerful word about Moses, the Lord parting the waters
that stands in front those who were listening. It was full of hope with the
promise of God’s power.
Debbie stood in the cold last night for over 2 hours ministering
to Susan, a 61 year old homeless women who is largely deaf and has been on the
streets on and off for 20 years. If you take a good look at Susan you can tell
that she is a beautiful woman, a woman who is hurting, a woman who needs hope.
She approached Debbie and asked her for prayer to heal her
eyes from the developing cataracts. They had a conversation about being
mothers, and prayed for each other’s children. She asked for prayer, but in the
Lord’s providence she received more than a simple prayer. She also got a friend
with a listening ear, a tender response, and a loving Spirit.
It is easy to forget that the homeless are real people, with
real dreams, and emotional and spiritual needs. Many of them love and serve our
God. Debbie found out that Susan loves to worship and that she had written some
worship songs. She sang part of one for Debbie. Her voice was sweet and the
song was inspiring.
Like many of the homeless, Susan has a variety of needs, but
she found family last night in the people of God, and a sister to speak with in
Debbie.
God never ceases to amaze me. I was getting ready to go out
to serve the homeless today and found that all our supplies were locked away,
and I didn’t have a key to get to them. Even our 5 gallon coolers for the
coffee and hot chocolate were locked up.
I called Nick who usually comes out with us, but he was
helping to oversee a major event at his church. He called me and told me that
even with the event going on that he was able to locate two coolers and could
make the coffee and hot chocolate. What a blessing. How amazing!
I went to Walmart to get supplies and picked up cups, sugar,
half-and-half, stirring straws, and a variety of individually wrapped cookies
and crackers that would be good with coffee or hot chocolate and headed out to
the streets.
I was the first to arrive and I wasn’t sure if anyone else
would be showing up. I put the table out and put the coolers out along with the
other supplies. A few of the homeless guys came over to help out, and Patrick,
a godly homeless friend was among them. Patrick agreed to help me out tonight
because I wasn’t sure who else might be coming.
I asked him his favorite verse or story from scripture and he
suggested Romans 8:25 & 26
if
we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
In
the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.
“Why don’t you preach tonight?” I asked.
“I’m not a preacher,” he replied. So I told him if he
started off, then I would finish.
Just then Jeremy and Jeff showed up and the night really
picked up. There was a lot of cussing going on tonight, but the Spirit was
moving none the less.
One man had shoes that were so badly worn that the seams had
popped three quarters of the way around both shoes and his socks could be seen
almost all the way around. I inquired and he said that he wore a size 12 and
that size was hard to come by. I asked him what kind of shoes he preferred, and
he said sneakers were best for him. I took special note of it and went to serve
some coffee. Not two minutes later Jeff walked up and asked him his shoe size.
We laughed and told him that I had just asked the same question. Jeff said he
wore a size 13, and not 15 minutes later the man was wearing Jeff’s brand new
pair of sneakers that he had been given. Amazing, I’ve heard of giving someone
the shirt off your back, but the shoes off your feet? Amazing how God sets our
hearts to love one another.
As folks gathered around us to hear the Word, the man who
had been doing most of the swearing stood right in the center of the group. I
let the group know that Patrick had the Word for us this night, and immediately
the man in the middle said, ‘go ahead and kick it Patrick.’
So Patrick read the verses above. He looked up and the man
in the middle asked him to ‘kick it again.’ Patrick said I’ll pick up from
there, but the man asked that he kick it from the beginning again. The Lord was
already moving.
Patrick read verse 25 and 26 again and then a few more
verses. No sooner did he finish than a man to his right began to explain that
all we have is hope, hope in Christ. We may be hurting or down, but we have
hope.
The man in the middle pushed in saying, ‘yeah, we get in
trouble here or things are hard but we can always put our hand up to Him.’
‘That’s Right!’ shouted another. Then a fourth man began to
explain how we all have a chance because of God, He is our hope.’
I wish I could relay the entire conversation. It was
interactive preaching and one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. No
sooner would one person stop talking than would the Holy Spirit move on another
man to continue the preaching.
Finally a young man standing on the outside started in and
told us how he recently got saved and how he had just got out of prison, and
drank and drugged. He preached a word. When he finished the man in the middle
said, ‘I can receive that,’ and fist bumped him and then hand shakes all
around.
These are hard, streetwise guys, every one of them. To see
and hear them bow their spiritual knees before the Lord is humbling.
I am so glad that I am part of a group of believers who love
God so much that they can’t help but love people unconditionally. I was so
blessed tonight, so refreshed by God’s love and mercy. I was ministered to by
the homeless tonight as Jesus stood in our midst and shared his unending love
with us.
