He had been
homeless for about 9 months and he’d never been homeless before. He was scared
to death, and he didn’t understand the street rules and kept ticking people
off. Isaiah
58, In His service put him in a motel for a week. He started to become
his old self after two days of solid sleeping. But this is not enough…
She is
addicted to meth. So many times she comes to me so high that she babbles and
cries and asks for help and then would disappear for weeks. She, so far, keeps coming back and never
remembers the last conversation we had. The last time I saw her she was sober and back
with her old man, who beats her when they’re high. She quoted scripture and
said all of the things that we Christians want to hear from lost sinners. But,
there is still no light in her eyes. We
gave her the Bible she requested. We give her backpacks, hygienes, Gatorade,
snacks and socks over and over again because when she’s high everything gets
stolen or she wanders off and leaves everything behind. But this is not enough…
He was a
hard hat guy. He climbed poles to fix transformers and could maneuver just
about everything made by Caterpillar. He was renting a room in a house and all
he did was work and relax. The perfect life to him. Then he got hurt. He had no insurance, no
savings and he needed rehab time. The doctor couldn’t release him to do the
work he’s always done. He couldn’t wrap his mind around doing another kind of
work. He’s on the streets. His camp is an abandoned house. He’s befriended a woman with schizophrenia and
he wants us to help her more than he wants help himself. The heat is really
getting to him, “Can you get so hot that your brains melt?” We give him Quik
Trip gift cards because he loves their sandwiches. We give him T-shirts and
shorts and shoes and lots of Jalapeno crackers, those are his favorite. But
this is not enough…
They’ve been
meth addicts for years. They recently met Jesus and they’re trying to stay
clean. They both have kids that have been taken by DHS. He’s been thrown in
jail numerous times for not paying his fines. Financially with all of the fines
and fees and living expenses, they are starting to sink and those who are
working closely with them are praying they don’t relapse. “I mean I know God is
real but it’s getting worse. We’ll never get ahead it’s like the more we pay
the further behind we get.” Isaiah
58, In His service is helping them with rent so they can try to find a
way through this mess. But it is not
enough…
He was a
professional. He was working a good job, had some of the finer things of
life. He was living life on his terms
and all was well. Then he had a car wreck. Without insurance he has thousands
of dollars of medical bills. He has virtually no support system. He hurts almost all of the time from his
injuries, depression is overtaking him. His car was totaled and he’s living in
a shelter. He is starving for hope, but he told us he works hard at getting
through the day, he can’t believe this has happened to him. He considers
suicide often, “I’m almost out of hope. “ We listen and provide small gifts of
love and encouragement. But it is not enough…
Homelessness.
It tries to consume Moms and Dads, Grandmas, Children, Laborers, Professionals,
literally every walk of life, and sometimes it does, it pushes them to the
brink. It is no respecter of age; there are homeless babies, toddlers, teens,
and seniors in their 80’s. They each have a story, a life before homelessness. They
pray for a life after being homeless. They don’t want to stay homeless but just
surviving takes all of their energy and the system is one big obstacle that
works against them getting back to self-sufficiency. What each of them need is stable,
sustainable, secure housing.
Isaiah
58, In His service loves on so many homeless people. We are always
humbled by their stories. Homeless people are some of the most resilient people
we have ever met. So many have a sense of humor that catches us by surprise.
They are the most appreciative people for the simplest of gifts. We are so blessed for our calling to
befriend, love and help these amazing people.
Housing. Our fervent prayer is
for Isaiah
58, In His service to be a ministry that provides housing. Not just a
motel for a week or two. Not pay rent for a month or two. But, to provide housing
for as long as it is takes. We need emergency housing. We need a safe place for
Moms and kids, when they’re new to town or their house burns down. We need a
place for those who are injured to recuperate. We need a place for those who
have no one, to die with dignity and be surrounded by love. We need a place for
those who are sinking in debt to stay for free so they can pay their bills and
get ahead. We need a place for those who are discharged from a psychiatric
facility to stay and be helped with medications and consistency. We need a safe
place for folks to stay while they are waiting to get into rehab.
Last Friday deni
received a call from First Baptist Jenks.
They had leftover hot dogs and sandwiches and asked if we could give them away.
ABSOLUTELY!! It was an incredibly large container full of food!! We laid hands
on the bag and prayed for the journey ahead, asking God to lead us to those who
needed loving on the most. And to the streets we went…
Just around
the corner was David. He was sitting in the shade and smiled as we pulled over.
He stood up and shook deni’s hand as we introduced ourselves. He said he has
been homeless for awhile, he stays on the streets and stays by himself. A Bible
was beside him and he commented. “You can’t be on the streets without Jesus.”
He took some sandwiches and told us he had been praying for where he could go
to get something to eat.
Douglas was
sitting on his suitcase at the bus stop, Melissa was high and lost, Johnny was
in the enclosed doorway of a church, and Alan thought deni was going to run
over him. He was on his bike and was waving us on. We slowed and yelled,
“Hungry?” He slammed on his brakes and leaned into the car window, “You did say
hungry!” He said he was on his way to fly a sign for him and his friends,
because they hadn’t eaten all day. So, we loaded him up with sandwiches,
“Hallelujah! Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Praise Jesus!!”
Then there
was the couple drinking beer with nothing to eat. The two guys sitting outside smoking,
thrilled to get a bite to eat. Jarrod was passed out on a sidewalk. We woke him
up and he had been bleeding but we couldn’t figure out from where. He kept
reaching for a hand to shake; so we shook hands quite a few times. He refused
to go to the hospital. He sat up and was trying to figure out where he was. He
took a couple of sandwiches and said he was headed somewhere, but wasn’t sure
where. We drove by later, but he was gone.
We drove
over to a church where a lot of homeless guys hang out. One was yelling and
preaching to no one in particular, a few were flat on their backs, another one
was loudly reminding us he was hungry too. The front man was Dennis. He said he
lost his sister and Dad recently and he was trying to take care, “Of all these
misfits.” We gave him a few bags of sandwiches and he said he would be sure
everyone got something to eat. "I
don’t know why you’re out here tonite but God bless you.”
How cool is
this? One church’s leftovers became a feast to a group of guys and gals who
needed someone to know they were alive and they matter.
Isaiah 58, In His service blesses those God brings alongside us.
Sometimes it’s in big ways where we wipe out a debt and in little acts of kindness
like Jalapeno crackers, bus tokens or Gatorade. We are so thankful that God
uses us to shine a little hope on so many who are desperate for something to
look forward to. But each day the needs get bigger and their lives are
complicated and sometimes it takes everything we have to help someone. As we face each crisis we are reminded,
“God’s got this!” Time and time and time again He provides the moment it is
needed.
Last Sunday
we prayed for those in our school system, many by name. Thank you to those who
sent names of folks to pray for. Tomorrow morning we’re going to pray for our
homeless community and those who work in ministries and agencies loving on the
homeless, like Night Light Tulsa, the Day Center, Salvation Army, Iron
Gate, Indian Health Care Resource Center, Mental Health Association and John 3:16 and many more. We’ll be under the Maybelle Bridge where Night Light Tulsa ministers every Thursday evening. Know that you are welcome to
pray with us!
We also ask
that you join us in prayer to provide shelter. YouAreSpecial.net
has purchased a house and they are
praying for God’s guidance. Join YouAreSpecial.net
as they seek the Father. Please pray for us that we will be obedient in our
role in supporting YouAreSpecial.net
in providing housing.
“Is not this the kind
of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords
of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share
your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when
you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and
blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will
quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of
the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I. If you do away with the yoke
of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend
yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then
your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the
noonday. The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a
sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a
well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will
rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will
be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.” Isaiah 58: 6-12
Mother Teresa said, “We can cure physical diseases with
medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair and hopelessness is love.
There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread, but there are
many more dying for a little love.”
We will
continue to love on folks, provide the tangible and advocate for them. We hope you will continue to love with us!! Thank you for sacrificing to give gifts in
kind, financial gifts and gifts of prayer! We are touching lives and sharing
Jesus and meeting needs because you are giving first. You are greatly needed and greatly
appreciated!
Know that
you are prayed for.
In His
service, deni
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