Jesus and Delta Force

It really is pretty incredible to realize how far this ministry has come - in just a little while. People really do just want to talk. They want Hot Chocolate and they want to talk. Yes, some a drunk. But a whole lot of others just want to tell you how, for example, they've been having trouble at work, or their 13 year old son is joining the Krips, or they're losing their home, or any numer of things.

Eight of us got the chance to talk and pray with people on Sunday night - continue to pray for the people on our prayer list to the right.

There is a story told by an old Eastern Orthodox Theologian (from the 4th Century), basically explaining why the incarnation of God in Christ was so important. Basically, it says that a "King" had a bunch of cities and in one city, the people started taking advantage of the Kings freedom, doing evil and even declaring their independence from the King.

The king couldn't take the city by force - too many subjects would die. He could intimidate them - they'd hate Him even more. If he left them alone - they'd destroy each other.

So instead, he took off the robes and the crowns and the jewels and went incognito into the city, becoming a laborer and inhabiting his own vacant part of the city. When people met Him, his kindness, and fairness, and goodness, and respect were so amazing that people just wanted to linger in his presence. They would tell him their problems and ask his advice. He told them that the rebels were misguided and that the King had a better way to live. One by one people began to have confidence in Him and live like Him. The wanted to rejoin the kingdom, but their rebellion was embarassing and shameful to them.

The good news, of course, is that the homeless wandering laborer was indeed the king who held nothing against them. They could feel free to approach the king because they had been hanging out with them all this time

He accomplished through a subtle, gentle presence what could never be accomplished via brute force. Jesus knew ALL about Delta Force.

Grace.

Urban Ministries: Visit One

The beauty of being a salaried employee is that from time to time I can show up late to work - as long as I get my work done - which is exactly what happened today.

Tilden, Stephanie, Kristy and I spent the morning with a couple hundred 'neighbors' (i.e. homeless people) at Charlotte's inter-faith Urban Ministries - they have a soup kitchen at the facility (an old train station on Charlotte's North side). They have other groups that come in to serve drinks, which is what we did. We brought 200+ bottles of water and served them during the meal. I've added some names of the people that we met on the right.

But, holy eye-opening. Charlotte isn't a HUGE city by any means. But it's estimated that there are 5,000 neighbors living in the county. That's incredible to me.

What's even more intense is the diversity of the people that we met. Didn't expect to find an English major, or an Airplane Mechanic, or a master carpenter, or a high-risk loan officer from a major financial institution. But that's exactly what we found.

We also found out that there is a lot of stigma - a lot that isn't so much grounded in fact as it is in ignorance.

God's doing and continuing to inspire some amazing things.

Grace.

The Frist 'Hatchet' We've Ever Met

I'm amazed at how many stories there are. I think that's probably the biggest lesson that I'm learning is that everyone has a story and they want to tell it. This was first intriging to me when Kristy came back from the last SAMS conference in Atlanta. That's pretty much what they talked about (in terms of evangelism). But to see it in practical situations is stinking incredible. We've had the chance to meet and pray with a crazy range of people.

Last night, a group of New Hampshire college students, on Alternative Spring Break, came to help us out. There were 9 of them altogether. It's a cool program - they give up their spring break to go across the country doing community service. It's not a religious organization or anything - we didn't realize that at the time (nor do I think they realized that the Salvation Army IS). I hope it was a cool experience for them. I think I've got all their names:

• Adam
• Erica
• Randy
• Katie
• Amanda
• Lauren
• Matt
• Kristen
• Jeremy

Thanks for helping us out. We gave out 137 cups of hot chocolate - and struck up conversation with a whole bunch of them. I've added more names to our list on the right of this page - maybe I need to start adding dates . . . soon. Please continue to pray for them all.

OK, couple of cool stories, couple of people stories and I'll be done.

First: it's neat how the people there are accepting us as part of the landscape. Kristy brought some Hot Chocolate to a group of three security guards, one of which was new and a little suspicisous. Perry, one of the guards we met last week said, "Ah, it's alright, they come here all the time."

Secondly: Kristy also got to pray with a man named David, who just wanted to encourage us and said that he really appreciates what we're doing - that he has seen us over the past few weeks.

Thirdly: Claude - a chef/baker. Holy smokes, this guy made us hungry. He works at a pastrie place uptown and started telling us about some of the recipies in the cookbook that he is preparing. He also gave us some tips for our hot chocolate - we'll be sure to put it to use. He has a son, Tyrel, but can't see him because of the poor relationship with Tyrels mother. Pray for reconciliation.

Fourthly: Josh (AKA Hatchet). A homeless teen wearing an Insane Clown Posse hoodie. Kicked out of his house, staying with friends here and there. And he's under 18 so he can't really stay at the shelters. We got him a cab across town and listened - he's got an unborn baby on the way with another teenager. Pray.

Finally: And most crazy. We think we've had our first 'Salvation' experience!!!! Dan. We think that he accepted Christ. He may have been a little intoxicated - but he did say that he needs God and Kristy led him in prayer. Continue to pray for him.

Continue to pray for this rapidly-developing ministry. We're fixin' to take the canteen soon. Maybe this week . . . who knows.

Grace.

Another Day, Another Donut

I can, without a doubt, say that we are definitely forming relationships. How do I know for sure? A police officer (our friendly neighborhood police officer) brought US his precious donuts. Isn't that incredible.

Last night, we anticipated it being warmer than it actually was - and, so instead of Hot Chocolate we brought some tasty lemonade. It went slower than NORMAL, but we also brought TWO cambros with us (that's the stuff we put the drinks in). Either way, we gave out about 140 cups of it.

But even cooler than that was the number of people we got to talk to - and the number of people that OBVIOUSLY recognized and remembered us. Sgt. Bennett was back and a whole bunch of the other security guards. AND we met a mess-load of other people too:

• Tony freestyled for us and told us that he didn't have anywhere to go (we prayed for him)
  
• Ronnie told us about how he's working real hard to provide for him and his fiancée, Fontella (We prayed with him)
• Perry wanted prayer that he'd continue to make the right choices
• Belinda (and her Grand-daughter, 3 year-old Jamayah) needed a ride across town because they missed her bus.

It was definitely the best night yet. AND we're crafting a mission statement or statement of purpose. Here's what we've got so far:

"CharMin Ultra" exists to assess and meet needs and to share God's love by building relationships with the community.

I like it so far -- I REALLY want to use the word actively . . . I think it may get vetoed though.

There are more names on the right.

Grace.

The Police and Peggy

We had another great night of ministry and relationship builiding. Starting at the corps. We had a great discussion with the rest of our Bible study group from which this ministry was birthed . . . I think it cleared up a bunch of confusion that may have been hanging over this whole thing.

Then we hit the bus station again . . . just a little after 9:00. As normal, it started with us just handing out hot chocolate. It's always funny to see people who intially don't want any who then see that it's free . . .

In any case, we had pretty much run out of hot chocolate again . . . when we got talking with Sgt. Bennett (from CMPD). He had been policing around the bus station for the past few weeks while we've been there. Last week I understand, that he seemed a little skeptical . . . or cautious about our efforts. And he wanted unsweetened hot chocolate.

So this week when we came back and got talking to him, and Tilden made a point of bringing him an unsweetened hot chocolate, he seemd to change just a little. Stephanie and I talked to him for quite a while . . . . seems like a great guy. We'll keep seeing him.

Then Tilden came out from inside the depot and says, "Do you wanna pray with someone?" Three of us went in and met Peggy. Peggy is a 52 year old wonderful woman who doesn't have any where to live. She's tried some of the shelters, but was just recently kicked out of one. We prayed for her and the Kristy sat and talked with her for what seemed like forever.

Long enough for her to miss her bus.

Luckily we had a van. We ended up driving her across town to where she had some family. Please pray for her!

It's pretty amazing to see the relationships that have already been built just by handing out hot chocolate.

Last thing, I've updated the names over on the right. Keep 'em all in prayer.

Grace, Y'all.

Date Night

So, anyone wanna have a date night? Good.

Now . . . you can practice that gift of self-denial. Sarah wanted me to post this idea that she had.

She wants to help out the parents at the corps by providing FREE child care so that 'Mom & Dad' can head out for a night on the town. This would be a great way to serve our corps. She's also thinking that we could be a monthly thing -- in that, we start this month, and then start picking one day a month thereafter that may work.

She's suggesting starting right after work and staying as late as the parents need it. That way they can fit in dinner and movie or whatever they want to do. Now that I'm married, and busy, I realize how important it is to spend time with my wife. It doesn't seem like parents get a chance to spend much time alone.

So, give her/us your thoughts. It sounds like an excellent ministry opportunity. If anyone is interested, let us know. She's looking at starting March 10, but it's flexible.